"They've Been Delivering For 18, 20 Years Under Pressure": Canucks Rick Tocchet Discusses The Historic Careers Of Sidney Crosby & Alex Ovechkin

The 2024-25 season is shaping up to be a historic one for both Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. The ninth and 11th all-time point producers in NHL history are wrapping up their 20th season and are now breaking Wayne Gretzky records that were once deemed unbreakable. Despite both closing in on 40 years old, neither looks like they are slowing down, with both Crosby and Ovechkin signed for at least one more season. 

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As mentioned, by the end of the season, both Crosby and Ovechkin will have passed records set by Gretzky. Starting with Crosby, he already has set a new record, becoming the NHL's all-time leader in consecutive seasons above a point per game. As for Ovechkin, he is on the verge of surpassing Gretzky's all-time goal record and, before the end of the campaign, could become the first and only player in NHL history to score 900 goals.

Watching these players battle it out over the past two decades has been a treat for hockey fans. While they weren't drafted in the same year, Crosby and Ovechkin made their NHL debuts on the same day and have faced off 97 times combined in the regular season and playoffs. Both will also be headed to the Hockey Hall of Fame while also having their jersey's retired by their organizations.

One person who has witnessed this rivality first hand is Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet. Tocchet spent three years as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins and faced the Washington Capitals in both the 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. When asked about Crosby and Ovechkin's careers, Tocchet had a simple answer as to why they have been successful for so long. 

"Well, it's just amazing, said Rick Tocchet. "We talk about consistency; they're consistency level. Whether it's scoring or whether it's any facet of the game. I lived it there for a couple of series of Washington and Pittsburgh, and watching them at high level, especially in the playoffs. Just a respect factor. It's hard to play that way every game. It's hard to play in pressure games and deliver, and they've been delivering for 18, 20 years under pressure. That's the hard part, to be able to deliver under pressure."

Crosby and Ovechkin have also served as role models for a large portion of players in the NHL. For years, whenever players were asked who their favourite player was growing up, the answer was usually Sid The Kid or The Great Eight. As Tocchet explains, he hopes young players are still paying attention to how much work Crosby and Ovechkin are putting in as the two continue to demonstrate how to be successful in the NHL.

"The easy answer is work ethic. They're doing stuff that other players aren't doing. Sidney Crosby, he trains, you know, he'll be in Germany one year training the new way of training. He's always trying to look outside the box. He always tried to build his foundation. And I think that's the same with the young players. You got to do what is required, what's more than required. Habits, build your foundation, build your game, what's your identity as a player, and then apply it in all the games."

In the end, the Crosby vs Ovechkin rivalry will go down as one of the best in NHL history. The two have battled their entire careers and produced moments that won't soon be forgotten. Luckily, fans will get one more chance to watch Crosby and Ovechkin go head-to-head, as they will face each other on April 17, 2025, which is the final day of the 2024-25 regular season. 

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