Who was faster in their prime Ovi or Sid?

[TheBig08]

i was debating with someone who was faster and they said sid but i think its ovi, I want to know the majority of people think.

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[Honour Over Glory]

Is this a joke? Crosby was a far better skater then and now.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

I think Crosby is the better skater but OV was like a bull, both going in a straight line Im not really sure who has the higher speed

 

[kerrabria]

Didn’t Crosby come into the league like Makar in terms of skating? Like everybody was in awe of his technique and overall skating abilities on top of being one of the fastest guys in the NHL?

 

[TheBig08]

Didn’t Crosby come into the league like Makar in terms of skating? Like everybody was in awe of his technique and overall skating abilities on top of being one of the fastest guys in the NHL?

i've always thought sids great skating was mainly because of his edges and not that he didnt have speed but not as much as ovi

I think Crosby is the better skater but OV was like a bull, both going in a straight line Im not really sure who has the higher speed

Not whose the better skater whose faster

 

[lokomotiv15]

Sid was 100% a faster straight line skater, along with being a better skater than Ovi, and one of the fastest in the league until his high-ankle sprain in 07-08. Still a phenomenal technical skater and always has been, but lost a lot of low-end explosiveness and a bit off the top end as well.

Young Ovechkin's top-end speed seems to be forgotten or underrated, though. He could straight line fly when he got up to speed back in his prime, too.

 

[newfy]

Ovi was definitely straight line faster when they broke in. He was terrifying on the forecheck. Crosby is/was an all arounf great skater but straight line speed is Ovi

 

[zappa4ever]

wasn't there some numbers early in OV's career about his acceleration/start/1st 3 strides being the best in the league back then?

 

[filinski77]

wasn't there some numbers early in OV's career about his acceleration/start/1st 3 strides being the best in the league back then?

Back in 2014 there was a study and Ovechkin had the fastest acceleration in the NHL I believe. Not top speed - but acceleration.

Assuming that peak to peak, Ovechkin had faster top speed and acceleration, but Crosby was always a better overall skater.

 

[Herregud]

If you were going for a proper fastest skater competition (back and forth), pick Sid.

If you were going for someone whose acceleration had them from D to O in a blink, Ovi.

 

[Randyne]

Sid was golfing.
So Ovi.

 

[dirtydanglez]

straight line speed id take ovechkin.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

Makes me think NHL should have a drag race sorta event, blue line to far red line and back or somethin. Would be fun to see who is actually just straight line fastest.

I think Ovi might actually win a race down the ice, but Sid’s obviously the better overall skater.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

i've always thought sids great skating was mainly because of his edges and not that he didnt have speed but not as much as ovi


Not whose the better skater whose faster

did you not read my post?

 

[LokiDog]

I feel like there is serious revisionist history taking place here. Sid’s skating was revered for his tremendous balance, edge work and mobility. He had a good top end speed and first step as well and continued working on them after his draft to become a truly elite skater. Ovechkin was an absolute rocket straight line skater, almost certainly faster than Sid at their peaks, and I vaguely remember him being robbed at the fastest skater event one year by the clock starting/stopping late or some such. There was a point at Ovie’s peak where people thought he might have been the fastest straight line guy in the league. Maybe I’m misremembering. We’re talking about 15-20 years ago and I’m an old fart, but this is pretty specifically what I do remember.

 

[elmaco]

Crosby has better edgework but i assume Ovi is/was faster.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

Ovi was definitely straight line faster when they broke in. He was terrifying on the forecheck. Crosby is/was an all arounf great skater but straight line speed is Ovi

My memory tells me this, but I can be easily gaslit into believing the other.

 

[Jared Dunn]

My impulse thought is that Crosby was a better all around skater where Ovechkin had more straight ahead speed

 

[abax44]

Hard to remember for sure from that long ago. Sid is definitely faster today. 85th percentile.

 

[Jared Dunn]

I feel like there is serious revisionist history taking place here. Sid’s skating was revered for his tremendous balance, edge work and mobility. He had a good top end speed and first step as well and continued working on them after his draft to become a truly elite skater. Ovechkin was an absolute rocket straight line skater, almost certainly faster than Sid at their peaks, and I vaguely remember him being robbed at the fastest skater event one year by the clock starting/stopping late or some such. There was a point at Ovie’s peak where people thought he might have been the fastest straight line guy in the league. Maybe I’m misremembering. We’re talking about 15-20 years ago and I’m an old fart, but this is pretty specifically what I do remember.

Agreed but I also wonder if the sheer size of Ovechkin made it seem like he was moving faster than he was. Just a complete unit bearing down on you

 

[blundluntman]

Sid was quicker and shiftier but Ovi was faster as far as top end speed was concerned

 

[ESH]

Prime Ovechkin was like MacKinnon with the way he could just burst into top speed in an instant

 

[Midnight Judges]

Ovie was famous for blowing by people, backing them off with speed, and then firing the puck past them. Sid never had those sorts of skills.

The revisions for Crosby are seemingly a bottomless well. If someone asked which player was best at drawing with sidewalk chalk, half the forum would swear Crosby was legendary at it.

 

[Mirka the Turka]

Lol who is saying Crosby here? Ovechkin in his prime was the best player in the world. Crosby never came close to Ovechkin's 65 goal season.

I'd only say McDavid may be able to match Ovechkin's 65 goal season. But imagine Ovechkin played in this era now with worse defense? Probably would have scored 80.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

K, rewatching highlights, I think they were both fast. If there was separation between them I don't think it was by a lot.

I'm not even sure Crosby had better edgework because Ovechkin was damn impressive too.
OV looked like a vending machine on wheels, but Crosby had a f***ton of power and balance.


The biggest differences was Crosby was relentlessly dogged all the time, and OV was like a freight train. But I dunno, speed seems like a wash. OV was more unstoppable at speed due to size, but Crosby would battle for every inch.