Alex Ovechkin vs Evgeni Malkin

[TheBig08]

Who is better all time Alex ovechkin or Evgeni malkin?

I say ovi

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[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), Ovechkin did it so much more that 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.

 

[DitchMarner]

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.

 

[DitchMarner]

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.