Alex Ovechkin‘s announcement that this will be his final NHL season has restarted the argument that has followed him and Sidney Crosby for 21 years. Bryan Hayes doesn’t believe there’s much to argue about.
Speaking on TSN’s OverDrive, Hayes placed Ovechkin somewhere between sixth and tenth all time, outside the group he considers the absolute elite, and put Crosby comfortably ahead of him.
“It’s like LeBron stuff, MJ is better. It’s not an insult,” Hayes said. “I just don’t think he’s better than any of the five guys we just named. He’s not better than Sid.”
He went further when pressed on it.
“Sid was a better player and has had a better career, without question. I don’t think there’s any debate,” Hayes said. “He’s a better, I think, leader. He’s a more dominant player in the biggest moments.”
Hayes built the case around championships, international success, leadership and performance when it counted most.
Who has more points, Crosby or Ovechkin?
The scoring split between them has always been the crux of this. Ovechkin is the greatest goal scorer the sport has produced, sitting first all time with 929, while Crosby has 654, good for 15th. Reverse it for assists, where Crosby’s 1,107 rank eighth and Ovechkin’s 758 come in 49th. On total points, Crosby sits seventh in league history with 1,761 and Ovechkin tenth with 1,687, achieved across roughly 150 fewer games.
The postseason gap is wider. Crosby has 201 playoff points to Ovechkin’s 147, three Stanley Cups to one, and two Conn Smythe Trophies to one. Ovechkin holds the edge in Hart Trophies, three to two, and in Rocket Richards, nine to two.
READ MORE: Sidney Crosby’s points against every NHL team
Fans largely lined up behind Hayes.
“Ovechkin is better at scoring goals. That’s it. Both phenomenal players, but Crosby is decisively better overall. There shouldn’t even be a question,” one wrote.
“They both entered the NHL the same year, Crosby has more points in less games played, and will probably play another two or three years. He’s also a center instead of a winger and can do it all,” another said.
A third put a number on it. “Crosby is a top-five player all time in my eyes. Ovi is a top 10. There is no debate for me who is better.”
The two have met 99 times, with Crosby’s teams winning 56 of them.
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