Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby are two of the most recognizable faces in the hockey world today. Crosby gets all the press but many hockey fans consider Ovechkin to be the better all around player. I am, and always have been, an Ovechkin fan over Crosby. Don't get me wrong if I end up with either of these guys on my fantasy team next year I'd be ecstatic. Crosby has been dealing with concussion problems for the past year and a half it seems while Ovechkin has stayed relatively healthy. In fact in his 7 years playing in the NHL Ovechkin has never played under 72 games. Crosby on the other hand has played only 63 games in the past two years combined. During these past two seasons, Ovechkin has struggled as well only netting 70 goals, compared to scoring at least 46 or more in every other season since he began his career in 2006.


Alex Ovechkin Washington 
Goals: 48 career season average
Assists: 48 career season average
SOG: 404 career season average
Power Play Goals: 15 career season average
Power Play Assists: 16 career season average
Game Winning Goals: 55 career total 

Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh 
Goals: 31 career season average
Assists: 55 career season average
SOG: 210 career season average
Power Play Goals: 9 career season average
Power Play Assists: 24 career season average
Game Winning Goals: 28 career total

Games played per season for their careers
Ovechkin: 79
Crosby: 62

Comparing these numbers across the board the better pick would have to be Ovechkin, at least statistically he would seem to be the better choice. The only thing that concerns me choosing Ovechkin over Crosby is that over the past two seasons Ovechkin's numbers have decreased a lot. From 2005 to 2010 Ovechkin averaged 52 goals per season along with 52 assists. Over the past two years he's averaged only 35 goals and 40 assists. That's 150 points in 157 games played. Those numbers are still substantially higher than Crosby but Sidney still has produced putting up 103 points in only 63 games. When Crosby is out there playing (at least over the past two seasons) he accumulates points at a higher rate per game but the real question is, how long will he stay on the ice? I'll take Ovechkin. 

Alex Wiesner