Sure, at first blush and utterly without context, 120 points sounds great, but Sid had 24 powerplay secondary assists (the most post-lockout) - most of which were uncontested perimeter passes. It's bizarre that people highlight these uncontested perimeter passes as if they are equal in value to goals. I'd be interested in your explanation for that. It's not a season that stacks up favorably with the best seasons of the past 15 years. Several other players had superior seasons in 05-06 and 07-08 (Jagr, Thornton, Ovechkin, Malkin, etc.). Sid is lucky none of them did it in 06-07.
Same goes for 2014 with 35 secondary assists. Again you are leaving out a lot of context. There is no need to compare Sid only to Getzlaf from the same season. There was no major change in scoring from 2012-2017 so comparing across years is perfectly legitimate. Ovechkin's 2013, Malkin's 2012, Stamkos's 2012, Ovechkin's 2015, and Kane's 2016 are all superior seasons. Again, just luck of the draw that none of them landed in 2014. Sid was also lucky that Malkin, Kane, Stamkos, and Tavares were all dealing with injuries in 2014 - which is the only reason you can claim the "separation" argument, which is also largely arbitrary.
The main things propping up these seasons - the things you cited - are largely arbitrary and flimsy. You argue that Crosby could have had more Harts. He just as easily could have had none.
Man, that is really stretching it here. You are hanging the whole "secondary assists" thing on him? Honestly, I don't even know how to track secondary assists, nor do I even think it matters. Don't other stars have plenty of secondary assists? Stuff that comes from rebounds or even just a normal pass that leads to a good play by the receiver of the pass? In the post lockout only Thornton (twice) and then Kucherov last year have had more assists than Crosby did in 2007. Isn't it natural he ought to have a large amount of secondary assists as well? Does that not count as a good play that something you did led to a goal?
I am a little lost here though in all the seasons you mentioned that were "better" than Crosby's 2007. Ovechkin in 2013? Huh? Ovechkin didn't even have as good of a season as Crosby did that year. Stamkos in 2012? Sure 60 goals is nice, but he was on a bottom feeder of a team and was 23 points less than Crosby was in 2007. Ovechkin in 2015? What? Kane, Malkin in their best years is at least closer, especially Malkin's but there is a reason no one cracked 120 points other than Sid since 1999 (until Kucherov last year).
By the way, let's keep one thing in mind, secondary passes or not, every player that ever steps on the ice has as much of an opportunity to get them as the next, and that includes Ovechkin. The truth of the matter is that while Ovechkin is a better goal scorer he is not a better goal scorer than Crosby more than he is a better playmaker than Ovechkin.
I'm sorry, but "lucky" is not a word I use to describe Crosby. He has had three years (2008, 2011, 2013) where he was leading the NHL in points before he went down with an injury. That's not a lot of luck.
Every time Ovechkin and Crosby were close in points (and Crosby was often slightly ahead), Hart voters went Ovechkin's way in a landslide (in 05/06, 14/15, 17/18, to a smaller extent in 09/10, 12/13).
By the same logic, if Ovechkin is slightly ahead in career points, then he has contributed significantly more during his career.
The edge Crosby has in ppg probably suggests that it could have gone the other way had Crosby stayed healthy, but Ovechkin has had a better career.
They have the same point totals but Crosby doing it in far less games. If we are nitpicking and combing everything over with these two great players we can't ignore this sort of stuff. If you give Ovechkin the edge in physical play and Crosby the edge in defensive play then perhaps those are both a wash, but the offense has favoured Crosby. Remember, this guy has also led the NHL in goals twice himself.
Take a year like, say, in 2018. Why didn't Crosby get the same amount of Hart love? Probably because Malkin had 98 points that year and took a lot of those potential votes. He's had this happen before with Malkin, it is what it is.
To be honest I am not a big proponent of tearing down either one of Crosby or Ovechkin while comparing them, I am just happy to be seeing the entirety of both of their careers. So it brings me no joy to see a generational guy like Ovechkin a slight notch, in my opinion, below Sid. But let's be honest here, does Ovechkin not swap careers with Crosby in a heartbeat?
