15 NHL Rivalries That Could Match Sidney Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin

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With a game as tough and physical as hockey, you are sure to rub a few guys the wrong way. The abrasive nature of the game has sparked some great rivalries over the years.

In today's game (blame the media), a lot has been made of the Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby duels. However, with Crosby on hiatus and Ovechkin playing inconsistent, we must look for other matchups to hype up and market.

Believe it or not, casual hockey fans, there are more than just two great players in the NHL.

That's why we're going to shed some light on them and pair together other interesting rivalries (or what could be) around the NHL.

Steven Stamkos and Alex Ovechkin

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There's one Ovechkin rivalry that gets overlooked in the NHL. The Russian star actually plays in the same division as another big-time hockey player—Steven Stamkos.

Why the NHL doesn't hype this up more is baffling considering they play each other (at least) six times a season.

Last year, they even squared off in the playoffs after a hotly contested division race. This will be a matchup to look forward to for many years to come.

Zdeno Chara and the Sedins

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One of the best current rivalries in the NHL is the one between the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks, which obviously stems from last year's epic seven-game Stanley Cup Final.

There are a number of tandems that could be created from these two teams, but why not put one of the league's best defenders against two of the league's most gifted offensive players in Daniel and Henrik Sedin?

Tim Thomas and Henrik Lundqvist

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Two of the best current goalies are Henrik Lundqvist and Tim Thomas. Not only do they currently play on two of the best teams in the NHL, they are also netminders for Original Six franchises.

This scenario has marketing opportunities written all over it. Surely, the NHL would love for these two teams to square off in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Claude Giroux and Evgeni Malkin

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Two of the league's current top scorers also reside in not only the same division, but the same state as well. Again, this screams marketing possibilities.

With others in and out of the lineup, Evgeni Malkin and Claude Giroux have been stepping up big for their respective clubs.

John Tavares and Tyler Seguin

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There are also a number of rising stars that can create some budding rivalries for many years to come. Two of them out East are John Tavares and Tyler Seguin.

Each of these guys is extremely gifted, and they haven't even peaked yet. The NHL needs to promote its young stars much better.

Pavel Datsyuk and Patrick Kane

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If one was to ask who some of the best stick handlers in the NHL are, surely the names of Patrick Kane and Pavel Datsyuk would come up. 

It's always a lot of fun when two extremely talented players square off. Best part of this matchup of danglers is they are in the same division.

Ryan Kesler and Joe Thornton

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There are a lot of great players out on the West Coast who should not be forgotten about.

Two of the best two-way players in the game come from the left coast—Joe Thornton and Ryan Kesler. Both of these players are great examples of what a hockey player should look like. They battle hard and do the little things well.

P.K. Subban and Dion Phaneuf

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Not to be left out, there are also a number of exceptional defensemen in the NHL.

One rivalry to keep an eye on for the next several years is that between Dion Phaneuf and P.K. Subban. They are both fan favorites who can not only play physical defense, but who also bring a scoring touch to the table.

Drew Doughty and Shea Weber

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Another brilliant tandem of defensemen out West is Shea Weber and Drew Doughty. They are simply two of the game's best blueliners.

Both of these guys know how to dish out the big hits and stir things up a bit. The intensity is always high when Weber and Doughty play.

Ryan Callahan and Zach Parise

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One of the better rivalries through the years has been the one between the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers.

Two of the players who are the centerpieces of their respective roster are Ryan Callahan and Zach Parise. Marketing this matchup shouldn't be difficult considering they're both American players in big markets.

Corey Perry and Anze Kopitar

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Although it may not be as interesting as usual, the battle of the greater Los Angeles area is typically a well-played matchup. 

The Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks have rosters front loaded with talented players. Two of the most important players are Anze Kopitar and Corey Perry. Perry is the reigning MVP and Kopitar is one of the best young players in the game.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Gabriel Landeskog

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Same draft class. Same division. Same high-level skill set. This could turn into a decade-long rivalry between Gabriel Landeskog and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

The NHL needs to jump on the train now and build publicity around these two rookies as they begin to rise.

Jamie Benn and Evander Kane

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One of the least talked-about emerging stars in the NHL is Jamie Benn.

When and if the purposed realignment happens, the Dallas Stars will be in the same conference as the Winnipeg Jets. Surely, the NHL would love to leverage the reincarnation of the Jets, so why not group their young star with Benn?

Evander Kane and Jamie Benn would make for a new and fresh rivalry. 

David Backes and Henrik Zetterberg

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The Detroit Red Wings and the St. Louis Blues have had a lot of classic battles over the years, and with the resurgence of the Blues, it looks like that trend will continue.

Therein lies a great matchup between Henrik Zetterberg and David Backes. Zetterberg is an extremely gifted offensive player, and Backes is one of the best two-way forwards in the league. 

Eric Staal, Jordan Staal and Marc Staal

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Last, but not least—we have a sibling rivalry!

Jordan, Eric and Marc Staal are three brothers all playing at a high level in the NHL. That certainly doesn't happen very often, and there are more Staals on the way.

The rivalry intensified when Eric injured Marc with a thunderous body check. Nothing runs deeper than blood, so these are games the NHL should capitalize on.