Alex Ovechkin vs Evgeni Malkin

[TheBig08]

Who is better all time Alex ovechkin or Evgeni malkin?

I say ovi

 

[Sentinel]

Ovi. He was historically special. Malkin was merely great. For stretches at a time.

 

[Michael Farkas]

Ovechkin, but it's a little closer than a lot of folks think - based on my perception of what other people think.

 

[MadLuke]

Availability gap is so wide that any Malkin > Ovechkin per game (playoff as well he could have a good argument to have some edge) one could make could not make up for it.

1426 regular season game to 1145,

And even then 1.09 ppg vs 1.13 ppg.

I think the current logic could apply, it is close either way (at their best, motivated Malkin hard to tell who is better), Ovechkin did it so much more that he is clearly ahead even if it is not by much.

 

[CokenoPepsi]

This is clearly Ovi

 

[The Panther]

I think, at each's best, it's basically a tie. Malkin's 2008-09 season, RS + playoffs, is probably as good or better than any stern-to-stern season Ovechkin has had, and Malkin's 2010-11 is up there, too. On the other hand, Ovechkin's 2007-08 is likely as good or better than any Malkin regular season.

Looking at extended primes, statistically...

Malkin 2007-08 to 2019-20 (RS only):
1.20 PPG

Ovechkin 2005-06 to 2018-19 (RS only):
1.12 PPG

Ovechkin comes out a bit better in plus/minus; Malkin comes out a bit better in playoffs, partly due to four Cup runs.

Overall, about even. I mean, I guess if push comes to show Ovi gets the higher ranking because of better longevity (and durability). But at each's best, I call it even.

 

[Letsdothis]

I'd lean on building a team around Malkin rather than OV. Geno was the kind of player that could carry a line by himself through his prime. OV kinda lost that ability after his first 5-6 years in the league.

Ovechkin is better on the powerplay and had better availability/durability through his prime, but Malkin was always ready for the playoffs. I think having the better player for playoffs is more valuable.

 

[GlitchMarner]

I'd lean on building a team around Malkin rather than OV. Geno was the kind of player that could carry a line by himself through his prime. OV kinda lost that ability after his first 5-6 years in the league.

Ovechkin is better on the powerplay and had better availability/durability through his prime, but Malkin was always ready for the playoffs. I think having the better player for playoffs is more valuable.

They played under different circumstances, though.

When Malkin was missing 20 or so games a year, the Pens had Crosby to centre the first line and lead the team. If Malkin had been on the Capitals instead of Ovechkin, his frequent unavailability in the latter half of his prime might have been more costly for his team.

 

[GlitchMarner]

I agree that at their best, the two players are quite close.

But all-time, they're really not. Their resumes (which people tend to base such rankings on heavily) are very far off. Malkin should be firmly between Lindros and Ovechkin in that regard, if not closer to the former.

 

[Zine]

Malkin at his absolute best was superior to both Ovechkin and Crosby. ‘Beast mode’ Malkin was practically unstoppable.
That said, he could never maintain that level of play on a regular basis.

Ovechkin takes this quite easily.

 

[Gorskyontario]

Malkin, and I don't think it's particularly close.

 

[TGWL]

It's Ovechkin.

But very interesting to see that since 2007 these teams are so close minus the additional cups won by Penguins. Total points - tied. Goals - top 3. Goals against - Right behind each other. ROW - 1 win difference.

 

[JackSlater]

Obviously Ovechkin but just as players and not careers Malkin isn't all that far behind. I don't mean that as a slight to Ovechkin either, Malkin was an all time great,

 

[Midnight Judges]

I think, at each's best, it's basically a tie. Malkin's 2008-09 season, RS + playoffs, is probably as good or better than any stern-to-stern season Ovechkin has had,

In the 2008-2009 season, Ovechkin got 112 first place Hart votes. Malkin got 12.

Ovechkin also won the Pearson and led the NHL in playoff PPG and GPG from 2007-2010.

Malkin also played a ton at ES with Sidney Crosby that season. Over 50 of his points involved Sidney Crosby.

 

[Michael Farkas]

"Per game" is back, baby!

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Seeing Malkin early in his career, I recall thinking, "wow, this guy is really good!".

Seeing Ovechkin early in his career, I recall thinking, "wow, I've never seen anything like this guy! ".

 

[Nathaniel]

Malkin is the better player. Ovechkin better career.

Malkin is the better player. Ovechkin better career.

 

[Gorskyontario]

Malkin is one of the most underrated players of all time. Ovechkin is one of the most overrated.

 

[daver]

Malkin at his absolute best was superior to both Ovechkin and Crosby. ‘Beast mode’ Malkin was practically unstoppable.
That said, he could never maintain that level of play on a regular basis.

Ovechkin takes this quite easily.

Is there any statistical evidence to back this up such as seasons or stretches of games that Ovechkin or Crosby didn't replicate?

 

[Felidae]

"Per game" is back, baby!

I know you say that mockingly, but I think looking at PPG over a large timeframe has validity to it.

I mean, this is Malkin we are talking about. Someone that has finished top 10 in PPG ten times, and was top 3-5 in PPG for 2 decades.

 

[VanIslander]

As juniors I was a huge OV fan, but this guy named "Malkin" impressed me more in international comps pre-NHL. Then OV went to my Caps and Malkin went to the dark side.

Thankfully Malkin pulled a typical Pittsburgh gimpy what-if career and fell out of contention.

 

[Melrose Munch]

OV because malkin missed too many games

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Better career is Ovechkin.

Better player is Malkin.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Is there any statistical evidence to back this up such as seasons or stretches of games that Ovechkin or Crosby didn't replicate?

Neither of them touched the level of play that Malkin hit in the 09 playoffs with 36 in 22. Beyond the eye popping point total, he beat up everyone in that run, not just feasting on 1 opponent.

Philly: 4-5-9 in 6
Caps: 2-8-10 in 7
Canes: 6-3-9 in 4
Wings: 2-6-8 in 7

 

[Michael Farkas]

I know you say that mockingly, but I think looking at PPG over a large timeframe has validity to it.

I mean, this is Malkin we are talking about. Someone that has finished top 10 in PPG ten times, and was top 3-5 in PPG for 2 decades.

Of course it does. Which isn't to say that availability and longevity should NOT be valued, of course it should. But this poster militantly opposed "per game" stuff, until it favors Ovechkin. Militantly opposes "fantasy", until "adjusted" stats favor Ovechkin. It's just all buffet style logic, thus my tongue-in-cheek comment haha

Like you said "this is Malkin we are talking about" - it's a known commodity. We can wonder if he would have won a scoring race in some season where he missed 18 games or whatever...fine. But we don't have to wonder very much about the caliber of this player.