Players Opinions

[RadioGaGa 162]

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=315609

Not to start a shit storm right away...but, I'm surprised the players would have such a huge gap between Ovey/Sid as Top player.

[Nightcast 0]

I think the players respect how hard he plays every game. I like both players but I do agree with OVI being the best in the league and I agree with a lot of the other stats.

[Rustpot 1]

Too bad they only polled 50 players, I'd like to see those numbers after the entire league is polled.

[Bravada 442 0]

Even as a diehard Penguins fan, it's hard to disagree. I think the thing is Ovechkin does things that make you go wow. I think Sid might actually be the better overall player, but Ovechkin can do things that nobody else on this planet can do and he does them with some flair.

[Trooper 8]

For crazy skill it's hard to argue with AO, as far as the guy who has the most impact on helping his team win, I'd go with Sid.

[hockeytim18 0]

For crazy skill it's hard to argue with AO, as far as the guy who has the most impact on helping his team win, I'd go with Sid.

+1. I love the Pens but as far as individual skill goes Ovechkin has to get the nod. Whereas Crosby can make a huge impact either himself (sometimes), or usually setting up the players around him.

[mug25 2]

Ovechkin just has a personality that's (for me) easy to like. Crosby has a stuck up, momma's boy attitude.

And I agree, Ovie is far more exciting to watch play.

[Chadd 916]

While there is a huge gap in those picking Ovechkin first, I think we all know that there isn't a huge gap between the two.

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

Absolutely. The only part of the Sid/OV argument I don't like is that people say Crosby works harder in his own zone than OV and that he makes his linemates better, where as OV is just hanging around waiting for a pass. Well, yea I would hope so. Crosby does play Center right? Those are some of the responsibilities of that position. You have to work down low in your zone, and dish the puck. As a winger, you cover your point man, and be open for the pass if there is a change in possession. You don't hear, 'How is OV always open for that pass?' That's why this argument will never be able to be black and white. They play a different position with different roles.

While there is a huge gap in those picking Ovechkin first, I think we all know that there isn't a huge gap between the two.

[Trooper 8]

Absolutely. The only part of the Sid/OV argument I don't like is that people say Crosby works harder in his own zone than OV and that he makes his linemates better, where as OV is just hanging around waiting for a pass. Well, yea I would hope so. Crosby does play Center right? Those are some of the responsibilities of that position. You have to work down low in your zone, and dish the puck. As a winger, you cover your point man, and be open for the pass if there is a change in possession. You don't hear, 'How is OV always open for that pass?' That's why this argument will never be able to be black and white. They play a different position with different roles.

But hockey is a fluid and dynamic game. You don't just stand covering your point man and skate up and down the wing like when you were 6. I rarely see AO backcheck while Sid kills himself to come back. Sid will play the ugly game while AO tends to play in open ice more.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

Ovechkin is more explosive and has a lot more flair, but Sid has a thing for the dramatic moments and has a very under appreciated board game. I think as far as pure offensive skill Ovechkin probably has the nod, but in the defensive aspects of the game I'd say Sid gets the nod on that. But all in all, your pretty much comparing apples and oranges cause they're two totally different players in all aspects.

[furlanitalia 1]

Most of those aren't surprising, such as Detroit being the best franchise. It would be nice if they polled more than 50 players though

[hamstercaster 2]

I'm a bit surprised to see Luigi as being the number one overrated player. Not surprised to see Lecavalier, Phaneuf and Bouwmeester in there though.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

For crazy skill it's hard to argue with AO, as far as the guy who has the most impact on helping his team win, I'd go with Sid.

I would go malkin over sid in the impact on helping his team win. Look at Crosby with Malkin out, numbers and pens wins drop significantly, look at Malkin when sid is out, took over the scoring lead and helped keep them in the playoffs

I rarely see AO backcheck

Then you have rarely watched AO play this season, his defensive game has improved a lot.

[mattzilla 0]

I'm not that surprised to see Lu ranked that high. What has he done? He's not exactly consistent, hw never plays that well when it matters most. Even in the Olympics, the difference was the team playing better in front of him than Brodeur.

[Trooper 8]

I would go malkin over sid in the impact on helping his team win. Look at Crosby with Malkin out, numbers and pens wins drop significantly, look at Malkin when sid is out, took over the scoring lead and helped keep them in the playoffs

At times, but he's wildly inconsistent. When Malkin's not playing well, he hurts the Pens, when Crosby isn't playing well he still gets a point here and there and contributes in other ways. Crosby has the knack of rising to the occasion. Not that Malkin doesn't, but if I had to bet my daughter's college fund, it would be on Sid.

Then you have rarely watched AO play this season, his defensive game has improved a lot.

Yes it has, but not to the level that it's anything to write home about. Just saying they have different strengths.

[chk hrd 164]

As a player I would be more worried of OV because of his style of "anything goes to make a play". He is willing to do what it takes and you never know what will happen next. I think Crosby is much more methodical in what he does.

Statistically they are equals they just get there by different styles of play.

[furlanitalia 1]

While I have never been a huge luongo fan because of his inconsistency, I would have to say that his olympic play wasn't solely based on the fact the team was better. It was because he played his position and didn't take risks like Brodeur did (batting the puck out of the air, playing it in the corner, etc). I think what drives me crazy the most isn't that he doesn't play well when it matters, it's that he doesn't play well when it doesn't matter (even though every game matters). Look at the game against Edmonton last week.

[Big Jim 1]

I wish they would have polled more than 50 players but it's cool nonetheless. I like both Ovi and Sid, but I like Sid more. I hate the reputation he has- Crosby. And yeah his interviews are dry as hell, which kind of confuses me because if you ask me he has quite a bit of personality on the ice..IDK. I just like Sid more. I agree with a lot that's been said in here. Crosby back checks like a mofo. He is GREAT along the boards especially for a smallish guy. He's not as flashy, but he's a better stickhandler than Ovi IMO as well. I'll probably get some hate for that one. Crosby's vision and hockey sense lives up to "The Next One" as well. He's great a scoring garbage goals in front of the net, again- especially for a reasonably small guy(he's no Andreychuk). They're equally as fast. Sid is def a better playmaker/passer though. I don't know there's just something I really appreciate about Crosby and the way he plays. Don't get me wrong I love both of these guys, they're both incredible and they're both tremendous for the game of hockey and the NHL.

Fwiw I'm a diehard Buffalo fan

[furlanitalia 1]

IMO Big Jim (and I agree with you) Sid always seems to want it more. They should ask the players "who hates to lose the most"or "who has the greatest drive to succeed" and I have a feeling Crosby would take it by a long shot. His desire to constantly be the best and do anything to win is what I feel differentiates him from Ovechkin. Has Ovechkin's defensive game improved? Yes, of course it has. But I just feel he has that desire to do anything to win. Game 7 last year he disappeared. Can - Rus he was nonexistent (as was Crosby, but Canada dominated the play). When Ovechkin needs to step up I just don't know if he can. That's why I have never felt the Caps are a threat to win the cup.

And before everyone jumps down my throat I want to set the record straight that I think Ovechkin is one hell of a player and is by far one of my favourite players to watch. I may like Sid more but definitely can't argue that both he and Ovechkin are the best in the league, and one will always be a little better then the other on any given night. In the end I have a feeling they'll go toe to toe with all of their accomplishments.

[Big Jim 1]

I'm just excited as a pig in shit to witness both of these players and to be able to see their careers in their entirety. It will be interesting to see where they land "among the stars."

Crosby does have that drive. I don't know, there's just something about him. His vision and ability to read, develop plays. He is exceptional at virtually every part of the game

[Chadd 916]

The difference to me is that after a game you look at the score sheet and you're surprised that Sid picked up three points and you're surprised that Ovechkin only had three points. There's no doubt that Sid is a special player, but Ovechkin has a special quality about him that I've never seen in another NHL player.

[Big Jim 1]

See, I agree with that too. I've always been good at seeing things from both sides and this is one of those things. Wierd. It's also probably why I tend to be indecisive a lot.

Ovie "showboats" a lot for lack of a better term. And in this particular instance I'm not really saying that's a bad thing either. Say, I think if Crosby tried to "show off" more and do more dangling/fancy moves and stuff he could.

Ahh. I like em both. I like Sid more or maybe want to like Sid more to an extent. I appreciate Ovi's tenacity and aggression, but he's pulled a couple dirty hits in his time(against players on my beloved Sabres team to boot). That made it easy to hate him at times for me.

[Chadd 916]

Ovie "showboats" a lot for lack of a better term. And in this particular instance I'm not really saying that's a bad thing either. Say, I think if Crosby tried to "show off" more and do more dangling/fancy moves and stuff he could.

I don't know, his spinning passes and shots always seemed contrived to me. I've seen both live and there is a palpable difference in the way the crowd reacts when Ovechkin gets the puck with open ice.

[dsjunior1388 81]

IMO Big Jim (and I agree with you) Sid always seems to want it more. They should ask the players "who hates to lose the most"or "who has the greatest drive to succeed" and I have a feeling Crosby would take it by a long shot. His desire to constantly be the best and do anything to win is what I feel differentiates him from Ovechkin.

I just don"t agree with this. This is professional sports. I think at this stage in the game, you have at least 100 guys who are even in that aspect, and it's incredibly difficult to measure. A lot of people want to look at the guys who celebrate the wins, and cry, throw tantrums, or sulk after losses. Crosby is an emotional player, and that has worked for a lot of guys. But Nick Lidstrom, I've never seen him look angry, upset, or show any emotion outside of a meak smile after a goal or a win. Some guys, the Yzermans and Roys, wear their emotions on their sleeves. Others, like Ron Francis, thrive on keeping an even keel, kind of a "never let them know you're hurt" mentality. You see one guy jubilant after a win and looking crushed after a loss, that doesn't mean he wanted to win more than the guy who isn't moping, it just means he's responding differently.