Why do people think that Ovechkin is better than Crosby?

Question

I was at a breakfast this morning here in Ottawa that featured both Bob Gainey and Bryan Murray. Somebody posed them the above question, and they both unanaimously said Crosby was head and shoulders above Ovechkin?

So, what are people's reasons for thinking otherwise? (Btw, Gainey thinks Ovechkin's cast is more experienced and just as skillful as the cast surrounding Crosby - Crosby's still better).

Also, after 5 games, Crosby has 6 points and Ovechkin has 5

Answer 1

I've never figured why people think Ovechkin is better than Crosby. Even George McPhee doesn't think Ovechkin is better than Crosby (but then he won;t say Crosby is better than Ovechkin either).

There is a reason that most of the people on here are...well on here.............and Bryan Murray and Robert Gainey are getting paid millions to build NHL teams. The people on here for the large part are fans of the game who speak with emotion (there are a handful here whom I have singled out before who are fans of the game who speak with emotion but are still open-minded to the realities of the game) and support their favourites whether right or wrong.

Personally, I feel that Crosby is a far superior player to Ovechkin. His score with the NHL's Central Scouting is much higher than Ovechkin's and one of the highest in history (currently Crosby is ranked 2nd to Joe Thornton and Ovechkin isn't in the top 10).

Offensively, Crosby's vision of the game is far more advanced than Ovechkin's. One of the biggest knocks against Ovechkin is that he doesn't see, or anticipate, what unfolds in front of him. GMs count that as a huge weakness (fans call it selfishness when it isn't).

The advantages that Ovechkin has over Crosby are his size, his skating ability, and his shot. Ovechkin needs to work on his playmaking ability, his leadership skills, watching the game unfold, his demeanour with the refs, and these will come.

Crosby has a huge advantage over Ovechkin simply because he sees the play unfold in front of him as well as he does (and we all know Mario was among the best at that so Sid's got a great teacher). Crosby also has a very good shot, but not as good as Ovie's. Crosby's playmaking is superior to just about everybody in the league not named Joe Thornton. Crosby is a typical North American skater and while not as graceful and powerful as an Eastern European, he skates well enough to get the job done. Crosby's leadership ability is superior to Ovechkin's as well. Crosby was a silent leader last year in the Pittsburgh dressing room which helped him gain the captaincy while reports out of both Russia and DC indicate Ovechkin has a long way to go to be able to handle that. I've heard a lot of reports that Ovechkin can be immature as well although I haven't seen anything publicly stating this.

Again, Gainey and Murray know of what they speak, and they are paid damn well for it too.

Answer 2

Ovechkin gets the goals; notice what you said... Crosby has 6 points but only 2 are goals... 4 are assists... but Ovechkin has 5 points... 3 goals... 2 assists...

This is about par for the season; Crosby will add more points and Ovechkin will have more goals.

To some people, Goals are all that matters; they see nothing else, and I admit, that as a goal scorer Ovechkin outmatches Crosby without a doubt... he also offers up more hits... Crosby however is probably superior in almost all other aspects of the game.

Answer 3

Sidney Crosby. he's the perfect over all participant in the pastime. He is acquainted with a thank you to win, score targets, preserve, and make the gamers around him greater advantageous. Ovechkin is greater of a one guy coach, whilst Crosby helps different gamers to share the spot mild. Crosby has been to the Stanley Cup playoff finals two times, triumphing the cup, and hoisting it because of the fact the youngest captain ever. He is acquainted with a thank you to win, and be triumphant. Ovi does no longer. in spite of if Ovechkin wins the cup this 3 hundred and sixty 5 days, it nonetheless won't make him the perfect, because of the fact Crosby had already accomplished it, and greater advantageous. His paintings ethic proves he's the perfect. And, he only is.

Answer 4

I could never figure why people think Crosby is better. Not to knock Crosby, he's obviously awesome, but I think Ovechkin is a lot more entertaining to watch, and considering he has little support with the Caps, he makes that team a lot better.

Answer 5

Because everyone has their own opinion.
If they are both in the league 10 years from now then we can compare stats and settle it.
But then again the stats still won't convince a lot of people of anything because there are so many variables.
As 10 people who was the best ever and you will probably get 3-4 different answers (Howe, Orr, Lemieux, Gretzky for instance).
Was Gretzky the best, what do you mean by best, best goal scorer, yes, best checker, no, best fighter no.
It is a question that will never be answered until that once a millenium player comes along.

Answer 6

Crosby has better players to work with, while as Ovechkin does not. Not fair for Ovechkin to be considered less skilled.

Answer 7

becuase Ovie's got Semin and kozlov now who both had the career of their lives last season, maybe you hvent watched enough of ovie to see how good he really is, caused i watched all 82 of the caps games last season and i saw it all. Im sorry but i despise crosby cause he's a pen and ovie's a cap just the way it is and no one will ever change my mind. We'll see about those points after tonight specialy since ovie is at home were he's recorded 2 points(only 1 home game so far)

Answer 8

The question in a few years is likely to be, "Is Tavares better than Ovechkin and Crosby?".

Answer 9

Im from PGH but watching Crosby every game is just amazing. Just last night he fell to his side, made a blind pass for a guy coming down the slot and he almost beat the goalie. Watching him skate so fast, turn on a dime, spin moves, back handed shots, using angles off of boards is amazing. Ovechkin reminds me of malkin but malkin hasnt brought it up to the top level yet.

Answer 10

Does it really matter? The issue will be settled over the next 5-10 years when the Capitals and the Penguins are battling for the Eastern Conference Championship every year. They are both phenomenally talented players and very enjoyable to watch.