This is an argument I have had with several hockey fans from around North America: Who is arguably the best player in the game today?
Unfortunately, living in the West, I have to deal with fans in the East who are inundated with all the hype and glory of Eastern-based players such as Sid Crosby, Malkin, and Alex Ovechkin.
There is very little news from Western teams, and players such as Peter Forsberg, Patrick Marleau, Shane Doan, and Jarome Iginla get secondary notice from the Eastern-based media.
In fact, the outstanding players on western-based teams that do get real notice are either players that have previously played in the East or are so special that they simply cannot be ignored.
Sid the Kid is a very impressive young talent. He will likely become a very big-name player in a few seasons, provided he goes about his craft the way he has done since breaking into the league. But is he the best of the league so far?
What about his teammate Evgeni Malkin? Fifteen goals and 59 points after 35 games played, he's currently leading the race by 12 points, which happens to also be the number of points he has over his teammate Crosby. But is he the best out there on the frozen surface?
The third of this impressive trio is of course the "new" Russian Rocket, Alexander Ovechkin. He's also got 47 points, is tied for second in the points race, and when he winds up, is one of the more exciting players out on the ice today. Both he and Crosby are definitely worth the price of the ticket. Is Alex the best player out there?
What have Malkin and Crosby done? Well, they went to the Stanley Cup finals with the Penguins against Detroit. That in itself is an accomplishment deserving merit, even if they lost in their quest for the hardest pro sports trophy to acquire.
Ovechkin has invigorated a team stuck in the middle of "There's nothing else to do, let's go watch ice hockey." He's brought interest and excitement to a team that was promised this and let down by Jaromir Jagr a few years ago.
All this makes it fun to watch these players play the game. One day Sid will likely have to contend with comparisons to The Great One himself, even more than he already has.
But like it or not, truth of the matter is Mark Messier was a better all-round hockey player than his teammate of so many years was. I've gotten grief over this statement as well, usually form fan-boys and puck bunnies who aren't into the game itself, just the individual player's razzle-dazzling.
So what makes one "the best" at his game? Goals? Points? Certainly these factor into the formula heavily. But they are just two factors. There are several other things you need to take into account when deciding on the best. Everything fits into one general category: Overall leadership.
What comprises overall leadership? You need drive, determination, grit, talent. You have to despise losing, hate the other team, get not just angry but truly pissed off at someone or something, no matter how trivial.
You have to bring everything to every game and leave it all on the ice. You lead your teammates by example more than by encouraging words in the dressing room before the game or between periods.
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