Does this part of the argument about Crosby vs. Ovechkin irk you too??

Question

I can't believe how many times I have seen posted that Crosby is having a better season because he is on the better team. What a terrible assessment that is. Did you people ever think that maybe they are having a better season for the most part BECAUSE of Crosby?? Guys can still have great seasons on crap teams. If they switched spots, Crosby would STILL be better. It's not as if he is playing with St.Louis and Lecavalier. Recchi is (and I really like Recchi) over the hill and one of the worst finishers (esp. on breakaways) around-Crosby is prolonging his great career. Malone or Laroque-yeah, they are great finishers...not. He might even have more points if he were with Washington. This argument can be made for someone like Spezza because playing with Alfie and Heatley is sure to boost the totals. Look at where the Pens were last year. The argument can be made (somewhat) with Gretzky because those guys (OILERS) stuck together through their prime but he still got points elsewhere.

Also, don't give me the what about Staal and Malkin because they are no where near their prime (they are rookies for God's sake) and they don't even play with Sid. Malkin on the PP and Staal never.

66 let's go-you really should learn to read. I did not say that the Pens are a crap team, nor did I say that they are a one man team. I said "players have good years on crap teams" Actually, as someone mentioned, I had a guy like Dionee in the back of my mind. As for being a one man team, I said Crosby is "the biggest reasons for their turnaround"
As for Recchi, you are just plain wrong to think he is having one of his best seasons-he had over 100 points three times and one year he had 123, that would win the scoring race this year probably. He is half the player he used to be.
Also, yes Fleury has improved but consistancy remains an issue but he will be OK.
All of the others have contributed, some (Staal) more quickly than most had thought. They are definitely not a one man team but they would be a much lesser team without Crosby.
Anyway, learn to read.

Lidstrom-Semin and Clark have been very good. Zubrus was doing well too.

Answer 1

Well Malkin sometimes will to be fair. When Therrien is trying to get a goal and really needs the score he will combine them on the top line. Also how about that for saying how good he is. Remember Coach Therrian likes to switch lines around to get something more out of them. He will reward players by putting them up a line and punish others by putting them down a line. Yet Crosby plays with that happening. As to Malkin, well he might be great, not in his prime yet, although you say he is an rookie, he is just an NHL rookie, remember he was playing in the Russian SuperLeague. Although I do agree with you about Crosby helps bring the team up, much like Mario had to do when he started.

Answer 2

The Penguins aren't a ONE MAN TEAM - ie. Sid the Kid. They are winning because they are all contributing and making each other better. Crosby is having an excellent year because of his team and coaching support. He isn't simply a scoring machine - he has way more assists. In the past 7 games, the Penguins have had 11 different players on the team score 26 goals. 5 came from Christensen, 7 from Crosby (including shootout game winners), with the remaining coming from Roberts, Armstrong, Staal, Malone, Malkin, Gonchar, Ouellet, Talbot, and Ruutu. If this was a "crap" team as you say, none of these guys would have scored and the Penguins would have lost all 7 of these games instead of only 1 and Crosby would have 26 more goals to add to his numbers.

I think that Mark Recchi is having one of his best seasons. If you think that he's over-the-hill, you obviously haven't watched him play. He scored his 800th career assist and his 500th career goal this season. He's out there leading this young Penguin team at 39 years old. What will you be doing at 39? Sitting at the computer...

This has been a great season for Marc-Andre Fleury. He is young, but he is quick. He's had some amazing games this year and some not so good ones...but so has Martin Brodeur. If any credit should be given to the team, a good portion of it has to to to Fleury. Just as the team is building and learning and becoming better, so is he, but I think he's done a heck of a job this year.

Overall, the Penguins SHOULD be turning a lot of heads and they SHOULD be receiving accolades. They have gone from the worst team in the NHL to a 4th place Eastern Conferecnce team in one season. They have accomplished many things - ALL of them - from coaching and staff to the players. For anyone to insinuate that the Pens are a "crap" team or a one-person team is unreasonable. If you watched every single Penguins game every season, like I do, you'd know that your argument is under false pretenses.

Answer 3

Ovechkin and Crosby are both fantastic players, and I would give the overall edge to Crosby without hesitation although I firmly believe Ovechkin is a better pure scorer. I think the main reason that Pitt is a better team this year is the overall talent on Pitt is better, they have the best young talent in the entire league; that is one reason why so many cities where courting Pitt to move(ie: KC) because they will be good for many years to come. Semin and Malkin cancel each other as the next great player on their respective teams, but Pitt still has Staal and Whitney as well. People should not ook at Crosby being on the better team as a knock on him its a credit to the team for having done a better building job!

Personally I put a great deal of the faith in Pitt's success this season in Fluery's play, he is a treamondous young goaltender. Kolzig is a decent vetern, but Washingtons slide really started when Kolzigwent down for 13+ games. I should mention though I may be very biased as I am a goaltender as well and tend concentrate a lot on net play.

Answer 4

I think that everyone who rates Ovechkin over Crosby does not pay any attention to the stats. True, Crosby is playing on a team that is having more success than Ovechkin's Caps. However, success, or lack thereof, is no excuse for mediocrity amongst the supposed great players in our game. Marcel Dionne played on horrible teams every year in Los Angeles, and he still is a top 10 all-time scorer in the NHL! Ovechkin really should be called "Overchicken," because he is very much overrated. And have you seen his plus/minus numbers? He is currently listed as -18, whereas Crosby is a very respectable +10. That is a difference of +28 for those of you out there who are not math majors in school. That is a significant difference! It tells me that Crosby knows something about defence, whereas Ovechkin must have missed the memo somewhere between Russia and Washington. Or maybe he didn't even get it all. Because Crosby has good numbers at both ends of the ice, with the 31 goals, 75 assists, 106 points and +10, he is a much better all around player than Overchicken, with his 41-43-84 point totals, which aren't too shabby really, and disgusting -18. Learn to play at both ends of the ice, Alex, then maybe you will be considered one of the greatest players ever because of your all-around play, which is something you are obviously lacking at this stage of the game.

Answer 5

The Pens may be having a better season because Crosby is on it but they ARE a better team than Washington.

Washington has Ovechkin and Kolzig. That's it.

The Pens have Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Fleury. Staal and Malkin may be rookies but they are very good rookies. They are having a great season.

Overall the Pens are better than the Caps with or without Sid.

And the teams records speak for themselves.

Answer 6

you know what im tired of everyone comparing the 2 to begin with and heres why crosby is a play maker ov8 is a goal scorer one plays on a team where you can name 8-10 guys the other plays on a team where you can name 3 do remeber this ov8 is the rookie of the year crosby finished 2nd who is better not compairable in my eyes crosby needs to mature and thats all his game lacks. OV8 bigger stronger and can dish out the hits that crosby doesnt they both bring something different to there teams and rather then saying who's better just sit back and enjoy the 2 of them

Answer 7

AwesomeBill....love the avatar. I've read some of your recent postings, you seem like a TRUE fan and I respect you for that. Unlike some of the other people from philly (hockeyrules2112)

Anywho, I agree. Soooo many posts about who's better or who's the bigger cry baby is just stupid. These are sophomores we're talking about. It is way to early to tell anything.

I'm a die hard Pens fan and I think Ovechkin is a real gooood player. Stats are good except +/- but, not all his fault. He loves to shoot though, so his chances of scoring more are higher.

I'm not going to state who's better. Just like #66 & #99. You can't compare apples and oranges, esp this early in their careers. They're no where near their prime and yet they have this huge weight on their shoulders that they are the faces of the new NHL. I respect both of them and their game.

Answer 8

i really think they are both great players just in different styles,but i really get tired of hearing about the battle of who is better,there are other great players in the sport.you said that staal wasn't even in his prime he is only a rookie does that mean that crosby and ovechkin are in their prime?

Answer 9

People are buying to how great Crosby is like NBA fans buy into Kobe and Lebron being great-stop worshipping them and learn the game and which players are more complete and excting to watch-Crosby fans are new fans-not old fans who understand the game.

Answer 10

VERY good points all of them. i agree 100% Recchi is to the pens wat the bus was to the steelers. he's a leader and they look to him for leadership as for malone and laroque they are good role players. the pens rookies and sophmores are no where close to the prime of their careers and people should be excited instead of critisizing them