Is Crosby "officially" the best player in the sport?

[Caps2cup05]

I keep hearing this and reading articles that Sidney is staking his claim as, bar none, the best player in the league. The argument is over according to a lot of analysts. I am a Caps fan and have hated the Penguins for much longer than Crosby has been a part of them, so I do have a bias; but I can't help but feel like the "argument is over" argument is incredibly premature.

In your opinion, is the argument over?

[Scottdau]

Re: Is Crosby "officially" the best player in the sport?

I would say he is the most complete player in the league and he is only 21, I think, so I would say he is the best and only going to get better.

[BlueNGold]

Re: Is Crosby "officially" the best player in the sport?

I think so. Obviously I have a bias as well, but I'm not one of those guys that's gonna put the blinders on and pretend anything to do with my teams is automatically the best or whatever.

Looking at it, he's a more complete player than Ovechkin is. A few years ago Ovechkin had the clear advantage in the goal scoring department, but now Crosby has closed that gap this season and the last. And up to this point he's been a much better playoff performer than Ovechkin as well.

Stamkos is entering the discussion as well, but he still has a ways to go to become a complete package like Crosby is.

Honestly, I think that if you asked all 30 GMs in the league who they would take if they had the 1st pick in a league-wide draft, Crosby would be the #1 pick just about every time.

[Caps2cup05]

Re: Is Crosby "officially" the best player in the sport?

First off, in my personal opinion, Pavel Datsyuk is the most complete player in the league and I am by no means a Wings fan...

I think Crosby is having the year of his life and deserves the MVP right now more than anyone else. The only competition is Timmy Thomas in bean town, but they won't even name him the full on starter for the team (WTF?).

I guess my problem, or personal hang up, is that Ovechkin (my guy) went off for three consecutive years and the debate never seemed to be over. And here we are half way through the season and Crosby has been the best so far, but suddenly the debate is over...

As an aside (and to show that I am not a complete fanboy) I think Ovi has been dreadful so far not only in point production but with stupid turnovers and an absolute inability to QB a powerplay and I think he should have the 'C' taken from him at the bare minimum. However, in the middle of his worst season as a pro he is 5th in the league in assists (at last I checked) and on pace for 30 goals.

[DrJones]

Re: Is Crosby "officially" the best player in the sport?

I keep hearing this and reading articles that Sidney is staking his claim as, bar none, the best player in the league. The argument is over according to a lot of analysts. I am a Caps fan and have hated the Penguins for much longer than Crosby has been a part of them, so I do have a bias; but I can't help but feel like the "argument is over" argument is incredibly premature.

In your opinion, is the argument over?

I'm with you, actually. Crosby is the best player in the league right now, but one dominant 25-game stretch doesn't mean all debate is over and done with.

[tyler289]

Re: Is Crosby "officially" the best player in the sport?

I'm with you, actually. Crosby is the best player in the league right now, but one dominant 25-game stretch doesn't mean all debate is over and done with.

This. He's been the best player in the league this year, but for a long time it's going to be like Brady and Manning (with other dominant players stepping up closer, too).

[tyler289]

Re: Is Crosby "officially" the best player in the sport?

And up to this point he's been a much better playoff performer than Ovechkin as well.

This is just a case of perception versus reality. Have Sidney's teams done better? Absolutely. But stats-wise:

Ovechkin: 28 GP, 20 G, 20 A (1.42 PPG)
Crosby: 62 GP, 30 G, 51 A (1.32 PPG)

Just because Ovechkin's teams have flopped does not mean that he has not produced in the postseason. He obviously has a smaller sample size, but nothing tells me he's all of the sudden going to start being terrible in April.

[Scottdau]

Re: Is Crosby "officially" the best player in the sport?

Dats is up there, but I say Sid is just a bit better.

[MizzyMike05]

Re: Is Crosby "officially" the best player in the sport?

I've always personally thought that Crosby was the all-around better hockey player, but up until this season, Ovechkin was a better goal scorer. Now I believe that Crosby is better than Ovechkin in pretty much every aspect of the game. Crosby is a better passer, better forechecker, better backchecker, and an overall better offensive threat. Ovechkin has been a great goal scorer ever since he stepped into the NHL, and he truly hasn't gotten any better at much. He has been very similar year-to-year, which is still very solid, with his goal numbers being high. He is still not very good on defense and his passing ability is not top-notch. When Crosby came into the league, he was a small kid with a big stick. He was very mediocre/below average at faceoffs when he came into the league, and now he one of the best, if not, the best, faceoff man in the NHL. Crosby was a very risky and aggressive passer when he was young, and as the years go on, he gets better and better at passing and the sky is the limit on how good he can be at passing the puck. Last but not least, Crosby was not known for his goal scoring, and he did not put many pucks onto the netminder when he played. Before the 2009-2010 season, Crosby decided that he was not scoring enough goals and taking enough shots, so he worked all offseason on his offensive skills, changing the curve on his stick, and getting a better feel for the scoring lanes on the ice, and guess what happens? Crosby wins the "Rocket" Richard trophy. So my point is that Ovechkin entered the league as a great goal scorer and he is not going to get much better than he already is. On the other hand, Crosby has gotten better and better every year and his ceiling is very high up there. Sid and Ovechkin will continue to excite and entertain the league year after year, and this will most likely be a debate until the sun doesn't shine anymore. I just feel that Crosby bring more to the table, is a better leader, and a winner that doesn't quit or break down in the pressure.

Final Word: Crosby > Ovechkin

[edwaxx]

Re: Is Crosby "officially" the best player in the sport?

Being a Pens/Pittsburgh ***** in general I'm still holding out hope that Sidney will start hanging out with Pig Pen and take up smacking hookers around in night club bathrooms....NHL players acting like NFL players will = jail time which will make this debate moot...just sayin

[rdnk]

Re: Is Crosby "officially" the best player in the sport?

I would say he is the most complete player in the league and he is only 21, I think, so I would say he is the best and only going to get better.

He's probably the best player in the league, as shown by his offensive output, but he's not as complete as Datsyuk. Crosby still isn't that great on the back end.

[MizzyMike05]

Re: Is Crosby "officially" the best player in the sport?

He's probably the best player in the league, as shown by his offensive output, but he's not as complete as Datsyuk. Crosby still isn't that great on the back end.

I agree completely. Datsyuk is definitely the best ALL-AROUND player in the NHL. His defensively ability is top-notch and he is a tough player to play against. In a few years, that title might belong to Jordan Staal :wink:

[tvman]

Re: Is Crosby "officially" the best player in the sport?

I agree completely. Datsyuk is definitely the best ALL-AROUND player in the NHL. His defensively ability is top-notch and he is a tough player to play against. In a few years, that title might belong to Jordan Staal :wink:

I was just going to say that overall i'd take Datsyuk over Crosby.

Datsyuk could be right up at the top in offensive numbers if he didn't concentrate on defense so much.

By the way is Crosby killing penalties yet?

I do like his ad though, for Sportcheck where the woman is looking to buy a stick for her son. Oh wait and i loved his Goal for Gold.