Pre-Olympic OV vs. Pre-concussion Crosby vs. 18/19 Kucherov

[Varan]

Which of these players was the best? Kuch's season so far has been drawing a lot of comparisons

OV: 89 points in 53 games (42 goals, 47 assists) WSH: 47-13-12 w/ OV | PPG: 1.68
Crosby: 66 points in 41 games (32 goals, 34 assists) PIT: 26-12-3 w/ Crosby | PPG: 1.61
Kucherov: 99 points in 60 games (29 goals, 70 assists) TBL: 45-11-4 w/ Kucherov | PPG: 1.65

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[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Crosby. Was doing this with Kunitz and dupuis on his wings and with malkin having a very sub par season. Was also a monster on both sides of the puck. It was something you had to see to believe. His domination went beyond just the stats.

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

OV
Crosby
Kucherov

 

[ESH]

Ovechkin had 65 points in his first 41 games in 2009-10. He then went and scored 12 goals and 24 points in his next 12 games.

We only know what Crosby did for 41 games. We know what Ovechkin did after more games, and what he did was score at a higher pace.

 

[authentic]

If we're including offense only it's Ovechkin, but Crosby was the best player of the three no question. Also consider Ovechkin was playing run and gun with peak Backstrom, Semin and Mike Green while Crosby was playing a defensively sound two way game with Kunitz and Dupuis, and scored at only a marginally lower pace in goals and points.

 

[Brucelenok]

Ovechkin had 65 points in his first 41 games in 2009-10. He then went and scored 12 goals and 24 points in his next 12 games.

We only know what Crosby did for 41 games. We know what Ovechkin did after more games, and what he did was score at a higher pace.

Pretty much this. Couldn't said any better. There were bunch of threads already in the past comparing Ovi 09/10 vs Crosby 10/11 and Ovi was winning every time. We already know what Ovi did, and for Crosby you can only speculate "could've and should've". Projection is the worst thing especially when a player doesn't play at least 70-80% of the season. I remember early season threads around here arguing how much Rantanen would score 120 or 130 points lol.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Pretty much this. Couldn't said any better. There were bunch of threads already in the past comparing Ovi 09/10 vs Crosby 10/11 and Ovi was winning every time. We already know what Ovi did, and for Crosby you can only speculate "could've and should've". Projection is the worst thing especially when a player doesn't play at least 70-80% of the season. I remember early season threads around here arguing how much Rantanen would score 120 or 130 points lol.

You just compared ratanen too peak Crosby. L.

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

You just compared ratanen too peak Crosby. L.

There were also many threads created by Crosby fans in 15/16 saying he would score 60+ goals because he was on pace for it after ~30 games. He barely hit 40. Exactly why the guy who actually produced >> the fantasy.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

There were also many threads created by Crosby fans in 15/16 saying he would score 60+ goals because he was on pace for it after ~30 games. He barely hit 40. Exactly why the guy who actually produced >> the fantasy.

What’s the question here? Is it who was better due to playing more games? Than Ovechkin is likely the answer. Or is it who was better on ability. Because then it is Crosby. Also Crosby didn’t have an 101 point 4th in scoring linemate

 

[412 Others]

Crosby put up the numbers without having to wait at the red line to fly the zone

 

[VoluntaryDom]

crosby

 

[um]

Ovechkin easily

Crosby was impressive but it was not that many games... consistency counts.

 

[JasonRoseEh]

Ovechkin
Crosby
Kuch

 

[Midnight Judges]

If we're including offense only it's Ovechkin, but Crosby was the best player of the three no question. Also consider Ovechkin was playing run and gun with peak Backstrom, Semin and Mike Green while Crosby was playing a defensively sound two way game with Kunitz and Dupuis, and scored at only a marginally lower pace in goals and points.

Crosby has never been particularly good at defense, and it's not as if Crosby was at some sort of disadvantage with Malkin factoring in on 33% of his points that season while having Kunitz - a 25 goal/60 point player before going to the Pens - on his wing. TJ Oshie's peak season was 21 goals/60 points prior to joining the Caps - does that make him a liability for Ovie in your opinion?

Malkin >>> Backstrom
Letang > Green
Kunitz = < Semin but actually Ovechkin played that season mostly with 37 year old Mike Knuble.
31 y.o. Kunitz > 37 y.o. Knuble

None of Backstrom, Semin, or Green have had much success away from Ovechkin. Not a coincidence.

 

[ottawa]

Can I get the PPG for stats in OP?

 

[Midnight Judges]

Also Crosby didn’t have an 101 point 4th in scoring linemate

Indeed all Crosby had was a lowly two time Art Ross winner factoring in on 33% of his points.

 

[authentic]

Crosby has never been particularly good at defense, and it's not as if Crosby was at some sort of disadvantage with Malkin factoring in on 33% of his points that season while having Kunitz - a 25 goal/60 point player before going to the Pens - on his wing. TJ Oshie's peak season was 21 goals/60 points prior to joining the Caps - does that make him a liability for Ovie in your opinion?

Malkin >>> Backstrom
Letang > Green
Kunitz = < Semin but actually Ovechkin played that season mostly with 37 year old Mike Knuble.
31 y.o. Kunitz > 37 y.o. Knuble

None of Backstrom, Semin, or Green have had much success away from Ovechkin. Not a coincidence.

Lol whatever floats your boat, I specifically remember the Backstrom, Ovechkin and Semin line dominating for a lot of that season and Mike Green was way better offensively than Letang then. Also Malkin had 37 points in 43 games that season lol.

Their record was also close to what the Lightnings is right now during the time Ovechkin piled up the bulk of his points, while being not nearly as good defensively. They were nothing less than an offensive juggernaut.

 

[Plural]

OV's 12 more games makes this more impressive to me than Sid. I think in the 41 games played Crosby was the best player of the bunch but not by enough that it closes the 12 more games gap.

 

[Varan]

Can I get the PPG for stats in OP?

updated

 

[Caps8112]

its great that this "defensive Crosby" myth has now been factored into all these discussions in the last few years since his smythe win. Its almost overpowering the ppg argument.

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

It seems like people are taking Crosby's defensive play of today and just adding it to his offense of 10/11. He wasn't as good as he is now. Also, why does it even matter? Crosby's CF in 10/11 was 53.7%, OV's in 09/10 was 57.4%. OV made the other team play D and Crosby's "amazing" 2 way game was only on display because he spent more time stuck in his own end.

 

[daver]

its great that this "defensive Crosby" myth has now been factored into all these discussions in the last few years since his smythe win. Its almost overpowering the ppg argument.

I wouldn't go down the "defense doesn't matter" road. OV during his peak years rivaled Jagr's lack of defensive effort.

Crosby was a responsible, if not effective, 2-way player by his 3rd or 4th year.

 

[sdf]

Kuchsby

 

[daver]

Pretty much this. Couldn't said any better. There were bunch of threads already in the past comparing Ovi 09/10 vs Crosby 10/11 and Ovi was winning every time. We already know what Ovi did, and for Crosby you can only speculate "could've and should've". Projection is the worst thing especially when a player doesn't play at least 70-80% of the season. I remember early season threads around here arguing how much Rantanen would score 120 or 130 points lol.

We know that OV regressed to a 124 point pace after 72 games in 09/10.

Crosby had a similar PPG after 41 games in 06/07 and finished at a 125 point pace after 79 games.

We know that Crosby's next 54 games after 10/11 saw him play at a 1.60 PPG.

I think you can make a strong case for Crosby as holding onto a similar PPG as OV if he played more games.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Crosby in the calendar year of 2010 had 126 points in 80 games. With effective 200 foot play with less than stellar wingers.>>>