Crosby vs. McDavid ‘a real reward’ for fans
Crosby or McDavid?
It’s not whether Connor McDavid has already overtaken Sidney Crosby as the best player in the world. It’s not about whether the other young kids, like Nikita Kucherov and Auston Matthews, are kicking the veterans to the curb. No torch has been passed — yet. For now, it’s being shared.
Crosby, who won his first Hart Trophy in 2007, led the league in goals last season and then won his second straight playoff MVP. In each of the past five years, he has finished in the top three in scoring. With five goals and 10 points in his first nine games this season, he is still one of the best players in the world — if not the best.
McDavid, who won his first Hart Trophy and scoring title last year at the age of 20, is right there with him.
“Who knows how long (Crosby) can play?” said the Oilers’ captain, who began this season with eight points in his first seven games. “He skates so well and takes such good care of himself. I think a guy like that can play forever . ...
“He’s an exciting guy in the league and an important guy in the league. He’s the face of the NHL. You want a guy like that to stay around as long as possible.”
Said Oilers head coach Todd McLellan: “The fact that Sid’s still playing at an exceptionally
high level and leading his team to championships and Connor is eight or 10 years behind him and leading his team as well, it’s nice to see both of them at the top of their game and competing. It’s a real reward for fans of the NHL. You don’t have to be a fan of just the Oilers or the Penguins to appreciate what those two players do.”
It’s not just them. This is a unique time in the NHL. You could say we’ve entered a golden age with two generations of star players coexisting on the same planet.
On one hand, you have veterans such as Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Patrick Kane and Steven Stamkos, who are between 27 and 32 years of age. On the other hand, there are younger players like McDavid, Matthews, Kucherov and Patrik Laine who are under the age of 25.
“I think it’s great for the league,” said Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan.