2005-06 The Cup #179 RC

Crosby and Ovechkin. Hot on the heels of their World Juniors battle, the arrival of the back-to-back top picks in 2005 was hyped up as the NHL’s answer to the Larry Bird and Magic Johnson rivalry. The pair delivered on their promise, both topping 100 points, but it was Ovechkin – just the second rookie ever to crest the 50-goal mark – who ran away with the Calder Trophy, capturing 124 of 129 first-place votes. Collectors preferred Crosby, however, and Ovechkin’s RC was a clear runnerup when The Cup debuted. It remained that way for years, but as his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s goal mark came into focus this single earned its due, becoming the most desirable rookie in this landmark release.