Let's Go Pens! Ru

Q: What is your opinion on the Calder race? I feel while both Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin are very talented, they are two very different types of players. Crosby is the more complete player, with Ovechkin being a pure sniper. I have never seen Ovechkin display the kind of stick-handling ability and vision I see from Crosby on a regular basis. Not to take anything away from Ovechkin -- he is amazing, also -- I just feel that as time goes by, Ovechkin's numbers will not be too much better (if better at all) than his first year's, while Crosby's numbers will certainly improve.


MOLINARI: Despite Crosby's advantage in head-to-head play -- the Penguins won the season series against Washington, 3-1, and Crosby outscored Ovechkin, nine points to five, in those games -- Ovechkin is the front-runner in the Calder race at this point. Understandably so, too, because he not only leads Crosby in the rookie scoring race, but has scored some spectacular goals that have to have made an indelible impression on trophy voters. Crosby will need a strong closing kick to overtake Ovechkin for the Calder.
That doesn't mean Ovechkin will be the better player over the long term -- frankly, any club would be ecstatic to have either -- but the Calder has nothing to do with how anyone projects a rookie's career will play out. (Nor does it have anything to do with what a rookie does, or does not, accomplish during the Olympics, or the playoffs.) It is awarded strictly on the basis of what players accomplish during their first season in the league, and both Ovechkin and Crosby have done some sensational things. Of course, so have other newcomers such as New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist and Calgary defenseman Dion Phaneuf, who are worthy of more top-end Calder support than they seem likely to receive.

Crosby has been every bit as good as advertised

In a story Sunday in The Ottawa Sun, Alfredsson named Ovechkin the best NHL player this season, and not just among rookies. He praised Ovechkin's creativity and ability to beat opponents one-on-one.
"He doesn't get frustrated if he gets hit ... he gets up and keeps playing," Alfredsson said of Ovechkin. "Not like that other rookie [Crosby], who starts crying. I think there's a big difference in the attitude."

Crosby said he was aware of Alfredsson's comments but declined to address them.

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