Who is the better overall NHL player? Pittsburgh Penguins Forward Sidney Crosby or Washington Capitals Forward Alexander Ovechkin? This debate will forever be an ongoing conversation. Ovechkin is the player making the most recent headlines around the NHL and is on the verge of breaking all-time great and hockey legend Wayne Gretzky for the most all-time goals. Ovechkin is seven goals away from breaking the record of 894.
Crosby on the other end of the spectrum has made history as well in the NHL. He set an NHL record for most point-per-game seasons breaking a tie with Gretzky for the most in NHL history. Crosby is also a 3-time Stanley Cup Champion and an Olympic Gold medalist for Team Canada. Crosby also has a ton of accomplishments and awards in his 20-season NHL career.
GOAT Player: Crosby-Ovechkin?
The Washington Capitals are in first place in the Metropolitan Division and have already clinched a playoff berth. They’re the first team in the NHL this season to clinch a playoff berth. As for the Pittsburgh Penguins, they are not in the playoff hunt through 72 games. They are 29-32-11 with 69 points.
Ovechkin is on the verge of breaking Gretzky’s all-time career goals record. Ovechkin has one Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe, Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy (9x), and Calder Memorial Trophy winner. Ovechkin might have the most goals of all time but Crosby does have the most points in a regular season and has accomplishments of his own.
Crosby has more Conn Smythe trophies and Art Ross trophies, but Ovechkin holds the edge in Hart trophies and Rocket Richard trophies. The Capitals star also won the Calder Trophy, given to the NHL Rookie of the Year, when the two were battling for it in 2005.
However, the stats, awards, and accomplishments between these two players make them different in their own right. Both players have been with their franchises since they entered the league and will retire with their teams.
NHL Season Is Coming To a Close
The season is coming to a close with teams having already played 70-72 games with 10 or fewer games to go. Ovechkin has 11 more games to score seven more goals to break Gretzky’s goal record. If Ovechkin does not break the record this season it will happen early next season. NHL fans are hoping that the “Great Eight” does it this season. Ovechkin entered the 2024-25 NHL season with 853 career goals. He started the season off red-hot with 15 goals in 18 games. But he suffered a broken fibula in November that set him back five weeks.
Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins are looking to finish out the season one game at a time and finish strong despite not making the playoffs this season. Crosby can break Gretzky’s all-time points record. He is only two points away. The Penguins are playing the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night, so it could happen then.
The NHL world is buzzing between these two all-time great players. Crosby and Ovechkin will go down as one of the two best NHL players that ever played the game of hockey. It is hard to compare the two players. Both players are exciting to watch and they will forever be loved by fans and the league.
