Few arguments in the NHL have lasted as long as the Sidney Crosby versus Alex Ovechkin conversation.
For nearly 20 years, the two superstars have dominated the NHL in different ways, collecting championships, records, and individual honors while building Hall of Fame careers.
As both legends move onto the final chapters of their playing days, a two-time Stanley Cup champion has weighed in with a clear choice, explaining why he believes one has always separated himself from the other.
Craig Ludwig Picks Sidney Crosby Over Alex Ovechkin
Craig Ludwig believes Crosby and Ovechkin deserve recognition reserved for hockey’s rarest icons.
During an appearance on DLLS Stars, the former defenseman argued that both players should have their Hockey Hall of Fame waiting period waived, even though that exemption no longer exists.
“If Sid and Ovi retire next year… couldn’t they waive the three-year waiting period for those two guys and put them directly in?” Ludwig said while discussing the pair’s historic careers.
He continued, “I just think it’d be so cool for those two guys to be inducted in the same year that they retire. I mean, they’re two of the best players of all time. They’ve got incredible records and numbers and everything else, similar to Gretzky, similar to Mario.”
The Hall of Fame granted that privilege to only ten players before eliminating the rule after Wayne Gretzky’s induction in 1999. Because of that change, Crosby and Ovechkin will have to wait the standard three years after retirement before becoming eligible, regardless of their accomplishments.
Although Ludwig praised both players as all-time greats, he didn’t hesitate when the conversation shifted to choosing between them. “In all honesty, I would take Crosby over Ovechkin,” he said. “Some people would think I’m crazy about that, but I just think Crosby is more of a complete player.”
This opinion doesn’t dismiss Ovechkin’s remarkable legacy. Ludwig acknowledged, “Ovi is the best goal scorer of all time right now,” recognizing the Washington Capitals captain’s place atop the NHL’s all-time regular-season goal-scoring list with 929 goals.
For Ludwig, however, the discussion isn’t centered only on scoring. Crosby’s ability to impact every area of the game gives him the edge. The Penguins captain owns more career points and assists than Ovechkin despite playing just 1420 games, and he also boasts three Stanley Cup championships compared to Ovechkin’s one.
Their playoff rivalry tells a similar story.
Crosby and Ovechkin met in four postseason series across 25 games, with Pittsburgh winning three of those battles. In three of the four meetings, the winner eventually lifted the Stanley Cup, adding another memorable chapter to one of hockey’s defining rivalries.
Even after making his choice, Ludwig returned to the point that mattered most to him.
“You can’t tell me those two guys wouldn’t fall into that list of players,” he said while discussing Hall of Fame exceptions.
Whether the rules ever change or not, he believes Crosby and Ovechkin have earned a place among hockey’s most exceptional names.
