NHL Stardom: 10 Reasons We Can Stop Comparing Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin

Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin are undoubtedly two of the game's premier talents, though both are very different in their own respective rights. The Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals superstars have been exciting to watch year-in and year-out, beginning in their rookie seasons.

That was a huge reason for their popularity. Both of these supreme players entered the league in 2005-06, so it was easy and exciting to compare the two as they racked up the accolades. Both have accomplished a lot at young ages, and both have established themselves as the league's top guns.

But what now, as each of them are in their seventh season?

Due to their own respective problems, neither Ovechkin nor Crosby are in the league's Top 50 for scoring through this season's 30-game mark.

The NHL boasts a wealth of young talent these days—Steven Stamkos, Claude Giroux, Tyler Seguin and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have burst onto the scene to pencil in their names alongside the likes of Sid and Ovie. It's time to quit worrying so much about Ovechkin and Crosby, and start shifting our attention to the rest of the league.

Other Teammates Making Presences Felt

While Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are surely top dogs on their respective clubs, sometimes players like Evgeni Malkin and Nicklas Backstrom don't really receive the accolades they deserve—especially Backstrom—who is developing into one of the NHL's finest playmakers.

Backstrom is currently leading the Caps with 31 points in 29 games—that's 10 more points than Ovechkin. Since last season, he's truly been carrying the Caps' top line.

James Neal, the 24-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins forward, has proved in Dallas that he could put the puck in the net, lighting the lamp at least 20 times in his first three seasons. Many believed he would be the winger Sidney Crosby always needed, but with Crosby out, Neal didn't seem bothered. He has surged to 17 goals and 29 points already through 31 games.

Claude Giroux

In addition to Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, there's a wealth of talent that truly deserves to be front and center, free of No. 87 and "The Great Eight".

Current NHL leading scorer Claude Giroux is one such talent.

He has registered 39 points in only 28 games this season—that's three more points than second-place Phil Kessel and in two less games. At only 23, Giroux is swiftly penciling his name in next to the likes of Crosby and Ovechkin as an elite forward in the league.

Unfortunately, concussion-like symptoms have recently sidelined Giroux indefinitely. The initial outlook—as reported by Flyers GM Paul Holmgren via Yahoo Sports—seemed brighter than darker, but now it's looking rather bleak for the 23-year-old star. 

Both Facing Their Own Troubles

After making a comeback from the concussion that saw Sidney Crosby miss more than 10 months, the Pittsburgh Penguins  superstar has been sidelined again with concussion-like symptoms. Although he has said that he is much better off than he previously was when dealing with this, concussions are mysterious, dangerous injuries, so there's no telling when he'll be back (via TSN).

Alex Ovechkin, on the other hand, is dealing with his own personal struggles.

Although last season was considered a down year for him, for most other players that's a great season. The same goes for his start so far this season. Ovechkin is struggling to find his 65-goal form from years past, and along with him, the Washington Capitals as a whole are finding themselves in some difficult times. 

Dueling Accomplishments Are Work of the Past

Amongst other accolades, in 2008, Alex Ovechkin had a career season that saw him score the most goals the NHL has seen since Pavel Bure. He totaled 65 goals and 112 points, to capture the Rocket Richard Trophy, Art Ross Trophy and, ultimately, the MVP in the Hart Memorial Trophy.

That was truly a remarkable season.

Sidney Crosby, on the other hand, also has racked up the awards already in his young career. Most notably, he became the youngest captain to win a Stanley Cup when he helped lead his Pittsburgh Penguins to the 2009 Stanley Cup Championship. He is also the youngest Art Ross Trophy winner in league history. 

But these are things of the past, and now both players have settled into their careers.

The only thing really worth comparing now is the number of Stanley Cups each player will accumulate come the end of their careers. Now, there are plenty of other things to focus on—such as the unexpected teams thriving early on or the current scoring race, which doesn't involve Crosby or Ovechkin whatsoever.

But if his short comeback was any indication, Crosby would likely be in the race right now had he played since day one, to his credit.

Hockey Is a Team Game Ultimately

Sure, whenever Pittsburgh and Washington play, it's a little more special because it's Ovechkin vs. Crosby. But at the end of the day, it's a game between two teams, made up of a group of players on both sides.

It is the team that wins game: Just ask Minnesota and Florida right now.

Arguably, neither of these clubs boast a star-studded lineup, but they win games through a strong team effort—with the Wild atop the entire NHL and Florida leading the Southeast Division. The scoring comes by committee. Sure, we can always compare individual accomplishments, but these two have accomplished some pretty remarkable things already that may be hard to exceed in the future. 

HBO "24/7" Series and Winter Classic Now over

HBO's "24/7" series is currently providing some incredible behind-the-scenes insight into the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers in the weeks leading up to their meeting at Citizens Bank Park in Philly for the NHL Winter Classic.

Last season, the series featured the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins meeting at Heinz Field on New Year's Day. That event was probably one of the more anticipated meetings between Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, and ultimately spawned Crosby's concussion fiasco.

But now with the HBO and New Year's Day drama a thing of the past, there isn't any particular anticipated matchup coming up between the two.

As Sid himself told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, whenever the Pens play the Caps, it's a little more special and intense, but it's just another game at the end of the day.

Steven Stamkos

The days of Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin hogging the spotlight are no more. Steven Stamkos has stepped into the league, making his presence felt quite powerfully.

At only 21, "Stammer" has won the Rocket Richard Trophy (in his second season), scoring 51 goals (tied with Crosby). In his three seasons, Stamkos has tallied 119 goals and 232 points in 243 games—quite a remarkable pace.

It's time to wake up and turn the attention to the others on the rise and taking the league by storm, such as Stammer and Claude Giroux in Philadelphia.

Both Have Risen to the Top Already

Sidney Crosby became the youngest captain to capture a Stanley Cup when he helped lead his Pittsburgh Penguins to a 2009 Stanley Cup Championship. He scored the "Golden Goal" to win the gold medal for Team Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

The 2007-08 campaign saw Alexander Ovechkin record one of the most explosive seasons the hockey world had seen in a long time, registering 65 goals and 112 points, en route to the Hart Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, Rocket Richard Trophy and Lester B. Pearson Award (now titled Ted Lindsay Award).

That was the largest goal sum since the days of Pavel Bure.

I'm not saying both of these players are past their prime, and I'm not saying they're not, but we watched them grow and evolve from their rookie days. That was what made the rivalry so exciting. These guys were younger than the majority of the league, and each were dominating it in their own ways.

They always left us wondering what was coming next as they surged to the top of the league.

It's just not the case anymore. Aside from Ovechkin winning his first Cup, there's not much for either player left to achieve besides more individual trophies that they have already taken home. Stanley Cups seem to be the best benchmark for both players to match for the rest of their careers now.

Better Storylines Worth Our Attention

The NHL has a lot going for it right now. 

As sad as it is to see, the concussions are raising many questions about player safety as a hot topic in the league. But with that comes the fascinating question of whether these teams without top guns will overcome the adversity or wilt like a flower.

Teams like Philadelphia and Ottawa will truly be tested going forward. 

Additionally, there's a plethora of young talent that is not only finding its way in the league, but dominating it, as well. It will be incredibly exciting to witness the blossoming of young guns Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins—all of the Edmonton Oilers. Others like Claude Giroux, Craig Smith, Steven Stamkos and Tyler Seguin will be exciting to watch over the next decade, too.

The Southeast Division-leading Florida Panthers and league-leading Minnesota Wild are two of the NHL's biggest surprises this season as we hit the 30-game checkpoint.

Goaltenders like Brian Elliott and Nikolai Khabibulin are finding themselves amongst the best netminders in the league so far this season: Both are in the Top Five in goals-against average and save percentage. Elliott also has four shutouts.

Jimmy Howard of the Detroit Red Wings is leading the league with 18 wins—three more than second-place Marc-Andre Fleury of Pittsburgh. 

The goal and point-scoring races are growing to be very interesting with all the latest injuries surfacing, too—namely with Claude Giroux out due to a concussion. Steven Stamkos scored Thursday night in overtime to help push the Tampa Bay Lightning over the Calgary Flames, and also to take the lead in goal scoring, with his 19th on the year. 

Phil Kessel is currently in second behind Giroux with 36 points and is also second in goals with 18 (one behind Stamkos). Milan Michalek of the Ottawa Senators also has 19 goals along with Stamkos, but he too, has been recently sidelined due to a concussion.

In the NHL, there is surely no shortage of great stories and races to follow worthy of attention.

Ovie and Sid Both Tired of It All

Take it from the players themselves.

Both Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are just tired of the ongoing media circus revolving around the rivalry between the Pens and Caps that began when the two entered the league in 2004. 

Speaking to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Sid had this to say on the current stage of the storied rivalry:

"

Whenever we play each other, it's always a little more intense and a little big. But when the time comes to play, that's when you're ready for it. I don't think it's something you circle on the calendar or anything like that.

"

At this point in their careers, it shouldn't be something you circle on the calendar, either.

Ovechkin shared similar thoughts to CSN Washington:

"

I’m 26, he’s 24. We’re not young anymore. We play different positions and we’re on different teams. Everybody will always be comparing, but I don’t pay attention to what you or what anybody else is going to say about his game or my game. I don’t listen to that. 

"