Who was faster in their prime Ovi or Sid?

[bambamcam4ever]

This was when McDavid was still in juniors, believe it was his 16 year old season.

He was still faster than Tavares lol. And how do you explain Tavares over MacKinnon?

It's just garbage data.

 

[Fordy]

pure straight line speed? they were tied. you’re all wrong

 

[wetcoast]

pretty sure everyone falls in a straight line but that depends on the wind resistance while their falling but still was pretty obvious the guy didnt even fully read what I wrote and it wasnt alot lol

My apologies as


My comment was more in general and I say this as a guy who has posted a lot between these 2 guys, their early speed arguments don't matter both hit the league running and were legends before 25.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

My apologies as


My comment was more in general and I say this as a guy who has posted a lot between these 2 guys, their early speed arguments don't matter both hit the league running and were legends before 25.

honestly I viewed ur comment as more of a joke anyways haha no need to ever apologize buddy

 

[wetcoast]

honestly I viewed ur comment as more of a joke anyways haha no need to ever apologize buddy

Ya it was more of a joke and even though I'm Canadian I've been in a state of shock since Tuesday night.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

My apologies as


My comment was more in general and I say this as a guy who has posted a lot between these 2 guys, their early speed arguments don't matter both hit the league running and were legends before 25.

also u can argue that Sid/Ov might be one of the best rivalries in NHL history player wise atleast. been like 20 years and its still going on
doesnt matter if you prefer Crosby or OV. both have arguments

 

[psycat]

He was still faster than Tavares lol. And how do you explain Tavares over MacKinnon?

It's just garbage data.

Now I dont know where the data is from, maybe the one who posted it does. I do, however, know that you claiming otherwise is not proof either, so where is your data suggesting that 16 year old McDavid was faster than prime Tavares?

 

[authentic]

Now I dont know where the data is from, maybe the one who posted it does. I do, however, know that you claiming otherwise is not proof either, so where is your data suggesting that 16 year old McDavid was faster than prime Tavares?

Bro, 10 year old McDavid was faster than prime Tavares.

If you are serious go back and watch McDavid at any point during his junior career and you’ll be mad at yourself for asking

 

[Ignatius]

Sid was faster and a far better skater. Ovi was just big and incredibly agile for his size, he was so extremely good at lining opponents up for big hits.

Ovi is just pure spectacle on ice and it's amazing to watch because you never know exactly what's going to happen with him with or without the puck, either way he's electrifying.

Sid plays a pretty straightforward grinder game with extremely high level skill and that in and of itself is spectacular, the fact that he does it so fast and has generated the results he's generated is what is truly remarkable IMO.

 

[JFedol]

I think Ovi beats Crosby in straight line speed but other than that, Crosby pretty handedly at least IMO, has Alex beat in all facets and was a pretty fast skater back in his shorten prime.

Ovechkin from 2006-2010 was a f***ing reckless bulldozer that was burying over guys with his speed lol.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

Now I dont know where the data is from, maybe the one who posted it does. I do, however, know that you claiming otherwise is not proof either, so where is your data suggesting that 16 year old McDavid was faster than prime Tavares?

I remember when this was posted a decade ago it was a sample of like 3 to 6 shifts for all players.

And what you're suggesting is pretty ridiculous: don't trust your eyes, trust this random chart. You know, because it has numbers

 

[MoreMogilny]

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.

This feels bang on to me. I’m kinda surprised reading through this thread. Ovechkin was the faster skater and it felt like he was discussed as such at length back when he broke into the league. Crosby was always credited for his overall incredible skating attributes but I never got the sense he was as fast in a straight line as Ovechkin or even really quite that close.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

OV was fast as f*** boy.

 

[Fatass]

Faster to three Cups?

 

[pi314]

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.

This is how I remember it.

Both top 10ish skaters.

Neither ever the fastest guy in the league.

Both could definitely make a defender look stupid with speed.

 

[pi314]

No one seems to remember how explosive prime Ovi was. He had better acceleration and top end speed. Didn't last too long though so Sid definitely wins for better speed throughout their careers but at his peak, Ovi was definitely the stand out.
View attachment 927830

Any chart that has someone significantly above McDavid is way off.

Connor is arguably the fastest player ever.

Especially in real game situations with the puck on his stick.

No way prime OV was faster.

 

[PenguinSuitedUp]

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.

Weird, it seems like you’re being revisionist by suggesting that Sid never had the skill to blow by a defender. I wonder how he got all those breakaways. . .

Meanwhile, Ovechkin’s only known skill is taking slap shots from the left side of the ice. Seems like skating wasn’t his strong suit.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Crosby from 06-08 and 10-14 was faster

 

[authentic]

Crosby from 06-08 and 10-14 was faster

Just because Crosby didn’t rush with the puck as much as Ovechkin at his peak people have failed to remember how fast he actually was. I remember watching him in his first few seasons and couldn’t believe what I was seeing how someone could be so fast and strong on the puck while making high skill plays. It really wasn’t all that different from the feeling you get seeing McDavid wind up today.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Ovi

 

[Honour Over Glory]

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.

Saying one is faster than the other doesn't make the other some slow wanker. Crosby was and still is the far better skater, speed, edge work, etc.

Ovechkin was more of a power skater and these days he can't get up to speed like he could but he's still way better than most at 39.

But in terms of skating speed and fundamentals, anyone would be ridiculous not to say Crosby because that'd just be ignoring facts. It doesn't make Ovy a terrible skater by any stretch though.

Just because Crosby didn’t rush with the puck as much as Ovechkin at his peak people have failed to remember how fast he actually was. I remember watching him in his first few seasons and couldn’t believe what I was seeing how someone could be so fast and strong on the puck while making high skill plays. It really wasn’t all that different from the feeling you get seeing McDavid wind up today.

One of the things Sid was admired for the most wasn't his speed but his edge work. He was incredibly strong on his edges and could knife through and quickly pivot with how strong his legs and edge work was.

Some of the best skaters in the league now used to idolize Sid and especially for the way he moved on the ice and trained harder to be as good.

 

[biturbo19]

Ovechkin was faster, but Crosby was the better skater. Simple.

 

[Albatros]

Crosby's skating technique was and is far superior.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Just because Crosby didn’t rush with the puck as much as Ovechkin at his peak people have failed to remember how fast he actually was. I remember watching him in his first few seasons and couldn’t believe what I was seeing how someone could be so fast and strong on the puck while making high skill plays. It really wasn’t all that different from the feeling you get seeing McDavid wind up today.

Theres a video on youtube of his 06-07 highlights. Yeah the agility and speed was crazy

 

[Ignatius]

OV was fast as f*** boy.

That spin move that he put on with that takeaway is what I remember from Russian players like Ovi, Malkin, Datsyuk, etc where it looks like they're just dancing on the ice at a very high rate of speed and doing it usually while stick handling or picking up a puck. It is truly a thing of beauty no matter who does it but like I said it usually comes from Russian players, perhaps they have a different training regime when it comes to skating?