A lot of things are up for debate in hockey. Who is the best goalie in the NHL? Matt Murray, Sergei Bobrovski, Henrik Lundqvist and Braden Holtby could all make a compelling pitch. Who is the best defenseman? It’s probably Erik Karlsson, but Drew Doughty, Brent Burns and a healthy Kris Letang would have something to say about that. Worst line in the rule book? It’s a tight race between the puck-over-glass penalty and the vague “distinct kicking motion” definition.
There’s one thing that’s not up for debate, though. At least at the time of this writing, at the outset of the 2017-18 season, Sidney Crosby is the best hockey player on the planet.
I’m not going to pretend to be oblivious to what’s going on in Edmonton. Connor McDavid is a legitimate superstar, capable of playing a fantastic game at an unbelievable speed. He should have a monster year, and he is surely the second best player right now. But those in the hockey community who have already decreed him to have surpassed Crosby are doing Sid, and the entire hockey world, an injustice.
Crosby has been doing something incredible for over a decade now, and he’s shown no signs of slowing down. He’s the closest thing this era has had to a Gretzky or a Lemieux. He’s already been underappreciated because of the irrational jealousy and insecurity-fueled hatred many fans harbor toward him. It would be criminal for the hockey world to turn its eyes away from him even one second before his dominance begins to erode.
To begin this account of No. 87’s greatness, I present his last 16 months. In June of 2016, he captained the Penguins to a Stanley Cup championship and took home the Conn Smythe Trophy, given to the Stanley Cup Playoffs MVP. In September 2016, he captained Team Canada to the top prize at the World Cup of Hockey and took home tournament MVP there, too. He won the Rocket Richard Trophy as the top goal-scorer during the 2016-17 regular season. He then captained the Penguins to another Stanley Cup win in June 2017, again winning the Conn Smythe.
How can somebody look at that year and posit that another player has overtaken his position at the top of the hockey universe?
Let’s get into some numbers.
He tallied 89 points in 75 games last season, second to McDavid’s 100 in 82. This is basically a wash, because the point-per-game averages come to within .02 of each other. Crosby, though, scored more goals, and had plenty of people to share the puck with. While McDavid is the absolute center of the show in Edmonton, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel and Co. get plenty of the puck in Pittsburgh.
The Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia native tallied his 1000th point last season, putting him in an exclusive club in the annals of league history. He became the 12th fastest player to reach that milestone, doing it in 757 games. That comes out to 1.31 points per game, which is the sixth best mark of all time. The names above his? Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy, Bobby Orr and Marcel Dionne. Is anyone saying the next man on that list is not the best player in the NHL today?
To say so would imply that he’s lost a step, his skills have eroded or McDavid is just that incredible. Again, I’m not here to talk down McDavid. His combination of speed and skill is unrivaled in the league, and he may well be the league’s best one day soon. But that day is not today, and there has been no evidence of Crosby slowing.
Young talent is important to the league’s growth, and should be marketed and appreciated, without a doubt. McDavid, Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine and Jack Eichel are the next wave of NHL superstars, and a good one at that. But Sidney Crosby isn’t merely a superstar. He is one of the greatest players of all time. He’s cracked the top five, in this columnist’s opinion, and it’s time to start wondering how he would have fared in Gretzky’s era.
Gretzky’s most prolific season was 1985-86. He tallied a shocking 215 points, a mark that will never be surpassed. That’s because across the NHL, teams scored an average of 3.97 goals per game in 1985. In 2016, that number was just 2.77. That doesn’t account for the entire difference, of course, but have you ever watched a hockey game from 1985? Goalies didn’t have half the equipment mass they have now, and hadn’t yet figured out how to use their legs to make saves. The amount of goals that came from unscreened slap shots from the outside is laughable. Most defensemen looked like they were still learning to skate backwards. Imagining Crosby’s athleticism, skill and skating ability in that era… it’s hard to fathom the numbers he would attain.
To pump my own brakes, I’m not declaring Crosby to be better than Gretzky. I am, however, saying that such a discussion is not absurd. For a player to be in the discussion with Gretzky and Lemieux is telling in itself of his greatness. McDavid has played just 127 games in his career — nowhere near enough time to establish himself in the same realm of the 782 game, unslowing, 1027 point (382 goal) monster that is Crosby.
If you don’t believe me, listen to Crosby and McDavid’s fellow players. Sports Illustrated polled 30 high-profile NHLers: Crosby or McDavid?
“It’s hard not to pick Sid,” Dallas Stars star Jamie Benn said.
“I think there’s a lot of great talent coming up,” Minnesota forward Charlie Coyle said. “But just the way [Crosby] thinks the game, the way he can move, he’s just such a smart player. I think he’s the best in the game.”
“You’ve still got to go with Sidney Crosby,” Arizona youngster Max Domi said. “I’m a good friend of [McDavid]’s and thrilled with how well he played last year. I think Sid, he’s won back-to-back Cups. At this point in his career, he’s continuing to get better and better. It’s unbelievable to watch. I don’t think you can go against Sid.”
“[Crosby] makes the players around him better more than anyone, and he wins at everything he does,” Detroit forward Dylan Larkin said.
Three players said McDavid is superior. Vancouver Canuck Chris Tanev amended his statement, calling them “1A and 1B.” Florida Panther Jonathan Huberdeau’s response suggests he’s just embarrassed from McDavid zooming past him in the one time they’ve shared a sheet of ice. And the third is T.J. Oshie, a Washington Capital likely still bitter from Crosby ruining two consecutive dream seasons for his club.
Last Wednesday’s NHL opening night may have seemed to be the start of a McDavid takeover (he netted a hat trick in the Oilers’ opener against Calgary), but Crosby was grinding away as ruthlessly as ever in the Penguins’ opener against St. Louis. He went for a goal and an assist, and he was as dominant and effective in the corners and the “dirty areas,” as his coaches often call them, as ever, and he amazingly completed 16 of 16 attempted passes in the offensive zone.
Set aside any distaste you may have for the Penguins (everyone loves to hate the back-to-back champions). Set aside the fact that Crosby has put a dagger in your team on one or many occasions — deep down, this is the reason most NHL fans hate him. Most won’t admit it, some may not even realize it, but it is. It definitely, definitely is. Let’s be objective here. He’s the best now, and one of the best ever. The numbers show it, and the eye test shows it.
Sid won’t be doing this forever. That said, he’s still doing it now, and the hockey world should pay close attention. Appreciate all-time greatness while it’s here.
