Varan
Registered User
If you could combine these players into 1, encompassing all their skill sets, which player (hybrid) would be better?
Crosby has been better than Ovi and McDavid has a good chance of being better than Datsyuk so I'd say McCrosby
Yeah but McDavid and Crosby have a lot of the same strengths like their vision. Having the best goal scorer who also becomes the best defensive player in the league. Crosby and McDavid you get elite speed and very elite play making, very good goal scoring and solid defense. OV/Datsyuk you get absolutely elite all time goal scoring, very good defense, and very good physicality with elite vision from Datsyuk. Crosby and McDavid are likely the best 2 out of the 4 but the combo of them doesnt provide the hybrid with as many elite aspects to their game as OV Datsyuk does because OV and Datsyuk are so elite in different ways
Peak OV is the best offensive player. He is also the most physical and most explosive skater. Datsyuk is the best 2 way player. Pretty easy choice.
Best goalscorer, not the best offensive player. Crosby was much more versatile offensively and much more proven to be able to carry a line. He also played a much more responsible defensive game. OV was given the greenlight to pretty much disregard defensive responsibilities for most of his career.
Both players were league leaders in PPG and pts, difference was that OV was also the leader in GPG and goals. Goals > assists. I think peak OV was carrying lines just fine. In 07/08 he had 45 more pts than Backstrom so I think it's obvious who was carrying the line. This isn't even bringing up what he did in 05/06 and 06/07. Don't really care about the defensive game as peak OV had a better CF% than Crosby so he spent less time in his own zone anyway. And besides, Datsyuk is the best defensive player here so it doesn't make a difference.
that may be the case but people always seem to forget the type of offence Bruce ran. it was run and gun and when you have a talent of OV's caliber, why on earth would you have him play defence in that type of offense.Crosby lead the league in goals and in GPG and has lead the league by a more significant margin in both points and PPG.
Both are very similar offensively at their peaks, the difference is Crosby was able to contribute defensively while OV was given free reign to cheat on defense.
Crosby>OV
Mcdavid>Datsyuk
that may be the case but people always seem to forget the type of offence Bruce ran. it was run and gun and when you have a talent of OV's caliber, why on earth would you have him play defence in that type of offense.
look at when Trotz came in, he asked OV to be better defensively while maintain his goal-scoring, and while OV is no stout on D, he has certainly improved and showed effort
people just love to make blind statements without context. OV has always listened to his coaches. i guarantee you if Trotz was the coach from 07-10, OV would have had more defensive responsibilty
With a lesser amount of pts.