Do You Consider Ovechkin Generational?

[Sam Spade]

But if you can only name one, then Sidney Crosby is simply just a better overall hockey player than him.

Flame away. But I believe more than one can be generational which is why I’d put him with Crosby.

Name something Crosby has done individually that Ovechkin hasn't done? Other than leading the league in assists that one time there isn't anything.

You say he is simply a better overall player but there is nothing to back it up except what you see on the ice. Ok, what I see is Ovechkin can run you over to score a goal, or a shoot a puck through you if needed. He could beat any player with his speed for ten years and is still pretty damn fast. Pretty damn good overall skill if you ask me.

So what now?

 

[Hockey4Lyfe]

Name something Crosby has done individually that Ovechkin hasn't done? Other than leading the league in assists that one time there isn't anything.

You say he is simply a better overall player but there is nothing to back it up except what you see on the ice. Ok, what I see is Ovechkin can run you over to score a goal, or a shoot a puck through you if needed. He could beat any player with his speed for ten years and is still pretty damn fast. Pretty damn good overall skill if you ask me.

So what now?

There’s more to hockey than scoring. Other than goals and hitting, Crosby is much better at every other facet of the game. Plays a more demanding position and produces much better when on the ice.

Has just as many career points with much less career games.

Everything that has already been stated by others and why almost every media outlet you see rank Crosby above Ovechkin.

And as much as people won’t say it because it means very little but Crosby has won everything there is to win. Led his team to 4 Stanley Cup finals and won 3 of them.

I also never said Ovechkin wasn’t good. So I’m not sure why you added that tidbit at the end. He’s top 2 of this generation. That’s nothing to be ashamed of.

 

[hockeeyyy]

Ovechkin's goal scoring ability has been sustained over the years -- without much of a dip in production save for the coaching changes he adapted to. He is absolutely generational and the day he retires, is the day all of you change your tune wishing you got to see more of him in his prime.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Does Ovechkin qualify as "generational" a word that wasn't used until relatively recently to describe athletes and has no standard definition so can be debated endlessly?

Sure.

 

[Bertuzzzi44]

There’s more to hockey than scoring. Other than goals and hitting, Crosby is much better at every other facet of the game. Plays a more demanding position and produces much better when on the ice.

Has just as many career points with much less career games.

Everything that has already been stated by others and why almost every media outlet you see rank Crosby above Ovechkin.

And as much as people won’t say it because it means very little but Crosby has won everything there is to win. Led his team to 4 Stanley Cup finals and won 3 of them.

Gretzky wasn’t a very good overall player, Messier and MacTavish had to take the defensive zone draws, nobody cares that the Great One was poor defensively as his sheer offensive output was ridiculous. Same can be said for Ovechkin, Crosby is a better all around player, but Ovechkin continuously lights the lamp and was a jauggernaut offensively.

 

[Hockey4Lyfe]

Gretzky wasn’t a very good overall player, Messier and MacTavish had to take the defensive zone draws, nobody cares that the Great One was poor defensively as his sheer offensive output was ridiculous. Same can be said for Ovechkin, Crosby is a better all around player, but Ovechkin continuously lights the lamp and was a jauggernaut offensively.

Gretzky is also 700 career assists above second place on the all time list.

Gretzky was a true offensive jauggernaut. Not just at scoring goals. Ovechkin is currently 123rd all time in assists. That’s not a slam on Ovechkin. But his game is scoring goals. It isn’t a complete offensive game. I won’t touch on the defensive side of the game.

They only player that has ever come close to touching Gretzky as a complete offensive player was Lemeuix.

 

[Dotter]

I don't feel right calling him generational. I feel like that should be held for more elite players. Players that rarely come around.. like Gretzky, Lemieux.

I feel better calling him the 2nd tier. With the likes Fedorov, Peter Forsberg, Joe Sakic and etc.

 

[pezpunk]

Ovechkin is the best goal scorer of the generation. I don't consider the best "goalscorer" of a generation as generational. IMO it drastically dilutes the term when you put pin point a particular skill. Obviously I'm exaggerating here but could you, in theory, have a generational grinder or fighter? Generational passer or right winger?

right, because scoring goals and "grinding" are of the same value in hockey. look ... don't pretend scoring goals is just some niche utility skill in hockey. it's practically the whole freaking point.

truly, it's a wonder to behold, the grotesque knots of logic people are willing to weave their arguments into, in order to find some cockeyed angle from which they can deem Ovechkin unworthy in some way.

he's the greatest goal scorer in the history of hockey. just enjoy that you get to watch his career happen in real time.

 

[NeelyWasAWarrior]

I do. GREAT goal scorer in an era depleted in goals. Big time YES.

 

[Bertuzzzi44]

Gretzky is also 700 career assists above second place on the all time list.

Gretzky was a true offensive jauggernaut. Not just at scoring goals. Ovechkin is currently 123rd all time in assists. That’s not a slam on Ovechkin. But his game is scoring goals. It isn’t a complete offensive game. I won’t touch on the defensive side of the game.

They only player that has ever come close to touching Gretzky as a complete offensive player was Lemeuix.

Fair point, Gretzky was in another world offensively that no one cared about his defensive deficiencies. If someone was close to his offensive output they could use that argument against him, but no one really is.

 

[SabresSharks]

Unquestionably.

It the greatest goal scorer of all time, imo, isn't considered "generational", then let's just stop using that term.

 

[Yog S'loth]

I wish we could take the word "generational", lock it in a gun safe, drill a hole deep deep into the Antarctic ice, and drop it in. Then fill in the hole, abandon base camp, and deny we were ever there.

 

[Bertuzzzi44]

So many differing opinions on the term Generational; Ovechkin is Top 10 All Time.

1. Gretzky
2. Lemieux
3. Orr
4. Howe
5. Richard
6. Beliveau
7. Hull
8. Crosby
9. Ovechkin
10. Jagr

 

[JasonRoseEh]

I don't feel right calling him generational. I feel like that should be held for more elite players. Players that rarely come around.. like Gretzky, Lemieux.

I feel better calling him the 2nd tier. With the likes Fedorov, Peter Forsberg, Joe Sakic and etc.

Ovechkin is a top 10 all time player and even if you don't consider him that now, when he's done he undeniably will be. If you're in that list you're a generational player, full stop.

 

[czechmate]

The label "generational player" is misused very often on here. One reason for this may be HF members attributing different definitions and criteria to the label "generational player". In my opinion the label "generational player" should be attributed to hockey players that have impacted or changed the game over a generation by excelling at several (or at a certain challenging) aspect(s) of the game, in consideration of: stats put up, awards received, playing style, overall talent, personality, etc.

Ovechkin most certainly is a generational player as he will most probably retire as the greatest goal scorer of modern hockey, if not all time.

 

[czechmate]

So many differing opinions on the term Generational; Ovechkin is Top 10 All Time.

1. Gretzky
2. Lemieux
3. Orr
4. Howe
5. Richard
6. Beliveau
7. Hull
8. Crosby
9. Ovechkin
10. Jagr

I would put Jagr ahead of Ovechkin and Crosby.

 

[NyIander]

No debate to be had here. He absolutely is and anyone who thinks he isn't should reconsider watching hockey.

 

[Dotter]

Ovechkin is a top 10 all time player and even if you don't consider him that now, when he's done he undeniably will be. If you're in that list you're a generational player, full stop.

I feel like top 10 isn't good enough to be considered generational. If he's top2 or 3 maybe. Generational should be nearly impossible to achieve, which is why it is called generational.

 

[txpd]

He’s top 2 of this generation. That’s nothing to be ashamed of.

Joe DiMaggio or Ted Williams. Magic Johnson or Larry Bird. People have their opinions based on their priorities. Where Ovechkin and Crosby are concerned the jury is still out.

Its as simple as this. After all these years their career points totals are almost identical. Crosby leads in points per game and Ovechkin leads in games per season. The result is that they get to the same spot.

If you think Ovechkin is 2nd, fine. Its an opinion where there is a fair case going the other way. The thread title is the ridiculous part. How can you have a potential greatest of all time who at the same time isn't generational

 

[Shaman464]

So many differing opinions on the term Generational; Ovechkin is Top 10 All Time.

1. Gretzky
2. Lemieux
3. Orr
4. Howe
5. Richard
6. Beliveau
7. Hull
8. Crosby
9. Ovechkin
10. Jagr

Hull? Which one. Neither are top 10 mind you, but still, with one?

 

[txpd]

I feel like top 10 isn't good enough to be considered generational. If he's top2 or 3 maybe. Generational should be nearly impossible to achieve, which is why it is called generational.

Well...its called generational because each generation has its elite players. It could be said that each generation has its best player, but then only one of Gretzky and Lemeiux could be generational.

 

[daver]

Joe DiMaggio or Ted Williams. Magic Johnson or Larry Bird. People have their opinions based on their priorities. Where Ovechkin and Crosby are concerned the jury is still out.

Its as simple as this. After all these years their career points totals are almost identical. Crosby leads in points per game and Ovechkin leads in games per season. The result is that they get to the same spot.

If you think Ovechkin is 2nd, fine. Its an opinion where there is a fair case going the other way. The thread title is the ridiculous part. How can you have a potential greatest of all time who at the same time isn't generational

Steve Yzerman started his career the same time as Mario, and has a few more career points. So are they equal?

 

[Bertuzzzi44]

Hull? Which one. Neither are top 10 mind you, but still, with one?

Bobby, should probably be ranked behind Crosby, Ov & Jagr.

 

[txpd]

Steve Yzerman started his career the same time as Mario, and has a few more career points. So are they equal?

I can make my argument for that. Sure. The idea that Ovechkin is penalized for being more durable and being available for service more often is silly. I am not sure the stats right now, but if Mario was better in points per game than Gretzky, are you saying Mario is the greater player?

If I had a choice between Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays, I take Mays even though per game Mantle was more productive in his prime.

Edit: If Ovechkin breaks the all time goal scoring record in more game then Gretzky, is he not the all time goal scorer?

 

[Shaman464]

Bobby

He's not even the best Blackhawk ever to play. I would rank him behind Mikita, who was Hull's pivot for his best years in the NHL.