Ovechkin definitely has more help from his regular linemates than Crosby, and it's been that way for most of the last three seasons. Actually watching the game will tell you that. Ovechkin works with Backstrom and Green, and, occasionally, Semin. (Although I think Semin's better off on the second line with Laich than the top line). And Ovechkin plays in the perfect situation - on a team coached by Bruce Boudreau. It's probably the most offensively aggressive system in the league. All of those gunners have the green light.
Washington's never going to win the Stanley Cup playing the way that they do, or with the team make-up that they have, but it's fun hockey to watch.
With the exception of playing with Hossa late in 2008 and in the 2008 playoffs, Crosby hasn't had that natural winger who can keep up with him. Guerin in 2002 would have been an awesome linemate for Sid the Kid. Crosby would be a 120-130-point player with 2002 Bill Guerin. Guerin in 2010 was out of place on a line with Crosby. Kunitz is a terrific complimentary guy, but Crosby doesn't have a linemate that's near his level of hockey. Playing Crosby with Malkin, outside of the power play, remains a last resort, a desperation tactic for the Pens. Unless Jordan Staal suddenly discovers an aptitude for playing the wing, we're going to have to see Crosby do what he did last year: carry his linemates on his back, shoot the puck more, and beat teams by scoring goals, instead of setting them up.
Pittsburgh's 1-2-3 punch down the middle is one of the best the game has seen since Beliveau-H. Richard-Backstrom dominated for the Habs in the 60s. Jordan Staal's an opportunity and a high-quality linemate from being a 70-80 point player. (He has hovered around 50 playing with Tyler Kennedy. One of the best third lines in the league, but Staal deserves better). But we saw it against Montreal in the playoffs. The Habs really keyed on the Pens centres, who generate all of their offence, and forced Pittsburgh's wingers to beat them. We'll see if teams are able to do the same thing during the regular season.
After about the one-third point in the season last year (once Malkin and Gonchar returned from injuries, and teams couldn't completely load up on Crosby), Crosby was heads and shoulders the best player in the league last year. He should have won league MVP. He carried that Pittsburgh team on his back for a lot of last season.
But there's no doubt about it: since Boudreau took over the Caps a quarter of the way through the 2007-08 season, Ovechkin has had the better supporting cast, and the better system, to produce offence.
As for the OP's question: that's a very good question. You're looking at two guys who have been playing at a very, very high level since they entered the league, and they have done a lot. Ovechkin has the individual accolades, but there's an old adage: you can't be viewed as the best player in the game until you win something. He's certainly one of the top 15-20 LWs ever. Crosby has both the individual accolades and the team success. Captained a team to the Cup. Won an Olympic gold medal.
Top 100 in NHL history? Distinct possibility. Top 100 when you incorporate pre-NHL and international guys? Probably not yet.
