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SPORTS Friday 29 September 2017

Crosby vs. McDavid is hot debate for best player in hockey

By STEPHEN WHYNO 100-point player last season
AP Hockey Writer is so fast that his contempo-
When Connor McDavid raries marvel at how quickly
stepped on the ice for his the 20-year-old can do ev-
first NHL training camp, Tay- erything on the ice.
lor Hall already knew hock- “He was coming at high
ey’s “Next One” was the speed, and he almost ran
best player out there. into me just stickhandling,”
When Sidney Crosby Boston Bruins goaltender
stayed on the ice late after Tuukka Rask said. “I had to
practice, Marc-Andre Fleu- tell him, ‘Hey, slow down
ry saw the best player in the kid, don’t run me over,’ be-
world constantly looking to cause he just skates and he
improve. stickhandles and it’s some-
But who is the best player thing I’ve never seen be-
in the world right now? Mc- fore as a goalie.”
David led the Edmonton McDavid skates a little like
Oilers to the playoffs and Crosby and said, “If you
the league in scoring last want to model yourself af-
season and won the Hart ter someone, I think he’s
Trophy and Ted Lindsay as good a guy as you can
Award as MVP. get.”
Crosby scored the most He also has a little bit of
goals and won the Conn Crosby in him that he sees
Smythe Trophy as playoff plays most others can’t en-
MVP for the second con- In this Nov. 8, 2016, file photo, Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid (97) and Pittsburgh Penguins’ vision and executes them
secutive year in pushing Sidney Crosby (87) battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh. before a lot of opponents
the Pittsburgh Penguins to Associated Press realize it.
back-back Stanley Cup eral years fending off com- Hart Trophy twice. time games in the last two “His speed is such a weap-
titles. parisons to No. 97 because “What more can you ask of years especially that he on that it’s insane, but no
“Crosby or McDavid,” Co- even the players who Crosby?” San Jose Sharks can perform,” New York one realizes how smart he
lumbus Blue Jackets defen- picked Crosby know Mc- goaltender Martin Jones Rangers defenseman Kevin is as a player,” Philadelphia
seman Seth Jones said. “I David is on his heels. wondered. Shattenkirk said. “I know a Flyers defenseman Shayne
think McDavid is what Cros- “I think you’ve got to say But the mantle of best play- lot of people love Connor Gostisbehere said. “He’s
by was when he was 20. ... Crosby because of his re- er in the game right now McDavid, but I think Sid is at thinking two or three plays
Obviously they’re the best sume and the year he had isn’t a lifetime achievement the peak of his career and ahead of everyone. It actu-
two players in the world.” last year, what he did in the award. That’s OK: Crosby someone who has lived up ally is amazing to see how
An Associated Press sur- playoffs the year before, just turned 30 and scored to every expectation that he thinks the game and
vey of 30 of the NHL’s top what he did in the World 44 goals, the second most he’s been given.” how good he is.”
players gave the nod to Cup, where his game’s at in his career, and players “Sid the Kid” was consid- Crosby is the best, but sev-
Crosby. When the players right now,” three-time Cup still see him still in his prime. ered the heir to Wayne eral players said McDa-
were asked to pick the best winner Patrick Kane of the “Every year he brings some- Gretzky well before he was vid is on the cutting edge
player in hockey, excluding Chicago Blackhawks said. thing new to the table and the first pick in 2005. Con- of revolutionizing hockey.
current teammates, Crosby “But it’s tough to pick tries to improve,” cussions cost him almost Kane said the Oilers cap-
received 21 votes, McDa- against McDavid, too. He’s Montreal Canadiens for- two full seasons’ worth of tain’s 2016-17 performance
vid six and Ottawa Senators just an explosive player. ward Jonathan Drouin said. games in his prime, and made a lot of other players
defenseman Erik Karlsson Just kind of watching him “Even though he’s getting Crosby still has 1,027 points. train to get faster in the off-
one. Two players couldn’t last year, he kind of floats a little bit older, every year “You look at Sid and how season.
choose between Crosby around a little bit and then he seems to get an edge much he was injured there Speed is the future of hock-
and McDavid and one said he’s just gone and he’s on something or get better and what he could’ve ey with McDavid leading
there were too many good got a scoring chance and at something.” done if he wasn’t injured,” the way.
choices to pick one. it’s just like, ‘How did that Winnipeg Jets center Mark Los Angeles Kings forward “Connor’s that next gen-
Crosby spent the first de- happen so quickly?’ It’s be- Scheifele gained more re- Tanner Pearson said. “It eration, the way hockey’s
cade of his career being tween them two.” spect for Crosby during the could be scary what his going: that full-speed
compared to Washington Crosby’s accomplishments playoffs, and he and others stats could really actually game at all times,” Wash-
Capitals superstar Alex and work ethic make him say the Penguins captain is be like if he was healthy ington Capitals goaltender
Ovechkin, the best goal- respected if not revered the best around at making that whole time.” Braden Holtby said. “You
scorer of this generation, around the league. In ad- his teammates better and McDavid missed half his can see young kids are be-
because they entered the dition to his three Cup rings, coming up big when it mat- rookie year with a bro- ing taught that, and I think
league together. Now No. Crosby has two Olympic ters most. ken collarbone but didn’t he’s the poster child for
87 will spend the next sev- gold medals and won the “He’s proven that in big- lose a step. The NHL’s only it.”q