Ryan Whitney Says Sidney Crosby is Top 5 All-Time | Pardon My Take

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[@citizenkane454]

To me, crosby is the greatest overall player ever. Excellent at everything.

[@beenis9842]

This is hard to debate indeed. Bergeron or datsyuk might be in the conversation but crosby had the defensive skill/mind of bergy and the offensive skill/mind of dats, like some insane lab experiment where they combined both players to make the ultimate hockey player. Been a privilege to be able to watch him for the last 15 years as a Bs fan

[@EvanderTrolyfield]

Crosby’s resume is insane. The guy has multiples of almost every trophy and that includes at least 2 years where he was robbed due to injury. Not to mention his national team accolades; World Junior Gold, 2x Olympic Gold, World Championship Gold, World Cup Gold. Captains most of those teams, won MVP or leading scorer of most. Unreal. He wins and succeeds at every level. Crosby is a top 5 forward ever; Gretz, Mario, Howe, Jagr, Crosby IMO. Very difficult to say top 5 player ever because goalies and defensemen can’t be compared to forwards. I will say can we please stop with the Crosby vs. Ovi stuff? They play different positions and it’s quite clear while Ovi is the better goal scorer, Crosby is the far better player.

[@aaronmacrae6506]

Well said, ovi yes scored goals. But sid is 10 times the player Alex is

[@leafs34]

@@aaronmacrae6506 I could name 30 better players all time better than ovi and I’m not kidding. Ovi is the best goal scorer of all time but he’s one dimensional. Happy he got his cup but he’s not a winner like Crosby is.

[@aaronmacrae6506]

@@leafs34 exactly that’s what I’m saying

[@KyleMacSkill]

@@leafs34 I'm a leafs fan but saying Ovi is one dimensional is means you don't know shit about hockey. He's a great forechecker, one of the best hitters of all time, and an underrated passer. Crosby is a top 5 but Ovechkin is top 10 at the very worst top 15.

[@connormcteer3319]

Ahhh too not include Orr would be wild. Numbers aren't exact but nonetheless; Orr broke the defensemen point record his first or second season, the record was o beleive 58 pts orr came in and out up 139. As like a 20 year old. Guy won 8 straight Norris's first player to ever win 4 personal trophies, 6 100+ pt seasons. If not for his 11 knee surgeries he would have probably played 20+ season and it'd be much clearer why he is rightfully so no matter defense or forward top 5 all time. I agree goalies can't be compared but a guy like Bobby Orr, he put up forward numbers as a defensemen he changed the game forever.

[@savagesweetheart90]

Got to see him play in 2016 against Chicago. Even traveled to Pittsburgh and it was amazing to watch him play and score. Best player indeed ❤

[@ryanmacneil2567]

To those of you who don't agree with Crosby being a top 5 GOAT - every player in the NHL would disagree with you. You are ignorant...

[@seanranelli5340]

Right on Whit best of this generation

[@chilltownallstar]

I have Crosby as my GOAT. Crosby has thrived through every era and has faced more adversity than any player in history. Never had someone protecting him and even fought to earn his respect. No rookie took the abuse that Crosby had and he still scored 100 points in a clutch in grab, neutral zone trap era. Endured concussions and came back just as strong. He is still producing even though he game is now dependant on reading plays and letting his team mates take care of the speed game. Gretzky wasn’t half as good at 35 as Crosby is rn and he sure as hell didn’t play a two way game like Crosby. Crosby is the GOAT IMO!!

[@connormcteer3319]

That's the most accurate top 5. Whit hit er on the button

[@qwwupp4763]

Gretzky, Mario, Orr, Crosby, Howe

[@KaleFGB]

Did you just put Crosby over Howe??? WHAT THE FUCK

[@LiamRFT]

@@KaleFGB Howe never had the peak that any of those guys had. His greatness was in longevity and influence. By the time McDavid is done Howe won’t even be top 5 anymore. I predict when it’s done the Top 5 will be Gretzky, Lemieux, McDavid, Orr, Crosby in that order

[@KaleFGB]

@@LiamRFT holy shit

[@Connor8609]

@@KaleFGB yes

[@Connor8609]

@@LiamRFT at this point in their careers McDavid is statistically Crosby if he never got hurt, played worse defense, and was vastly inferior in the playoffs (in a higher scoring era)

[@tytrack95]

Great interview! And yes Sidney Crosby is GOAT

[@roryvonmeyer2643]

I think Sid would have as many or more points as Gretzky if they both played in the same era. I said "I think" because it is purely opinion and it cannot be proved.

[@tegridy27]

Idc what anyone says. Crosby’s my goat 🐐

[@WaLLbAnGeR211]

If Crosby played in Gretzky’s era he’d have 300 points a year lol

[@connormcteer3319]

You have to consider equipment and development. Crosby had far greater development both in the sense the game has come along way and we'll Gretzky had come and gone this changing the came alot. Making people realize you don't have to be a super athlete if your a smart player, which Crosby benefitted from greatly. But with the same development equipment ext I think they'd be very similar in numbers. You can call Gretzky's numbers inflated because of his era but good look at all the other HHOF from that era, Gretzky lapped them in points season in and out. Never seen Crosby lap a guy who's even top 20 in points lol

[@murray1978]

99 had 90 points his last year as a 39-year-old during the prime of the Dead Puck Era. If Gretzky had the same training and nutrition as Crosby, he would have been 25 points higher than the best point-getter in his prime. Put 99 in today's era with composite sticks and skill? He would still be the best.

[@evanbrown2594]

That is hard to argue against. Same with Sid around 2010-11. In 25 games 50pts and 26 goals.. the game then was way tighter and more was allowed then today. Today is fun to watch with high skill and speed. Anyone who thinks that game easily translates to the past is out to lunch.

[@jackfredricks6223]

"So you played with one of the top 5 guys of all time..." You mean TWO of the top 5 guys all time?

[@SouthernSkeptic]

Bossy is in the conversation for best goal scorer.

[@menachr]

It’s ridiculous how he doesn’t get more respect

[@connormcteer3319]

Bossy made it a conversation ovi just recently got invited.

[@SouthernSkeptic]

@@menachr Isles dynasty is disrespected a lot. When somebody says who is the best player to wear 19, say Trottier and watch the idiots come out.

[@guyfuckenfieri5033]

@@SouthernSkeptic well i mean trottier is nowhere near yzerman or sakic.

[@SouthernSkeptic]

@@guyfuckenfieri5033 See what I mean? The funny thing is, every "who is the best 19" lists all 3 of them and puts all of them in the conversation. And Trottier has more cups than both of them put togther. And Stevie Y wore 19 because of Trottier. Because Trots was considere the best twi way player when he played. Just like Stevie. You show your ignorance saying Trottier is nowhere near them. Trots also won an Art Ross, a Hart and the Calder trophy. Don't be as ignorant as guy everybody. Research shit before you type.

[@fatpowerful]

Crosby got whit several million. Plus he’s the greatest in the game currently.

[@daviddelac]

Whit is an American treasure

[@getothechoppa114]

I agree with his top 5. And ovi as the greatest goal scorer 🤟

[@GordonGekko98]

Best player to ever live

[@TheMightyEye]

Crosby is the best of all time.

[@isidro9911]

Lol

[@thatpensfanatic1005]

He’s top 5 all time, Common Sense LMAO

[@andrewmoore2347]

I agree with Crosby, but where is Beliveau in this list??? I know most of you have never seen him play but he was dominant. I realize that times where different back then but Beliveau's talent and abilities where so obvious! All the players listed in this top five, except for Howe, are in vert recent hockey generations. Howe played so many years (even when he probably shouldn't) whereas Beliveau kept his career short in comparison.

[@SuperiorSpiderMods]

All better

[@pensfan_traders8734]

Top 5 all time

[@Regalman]

Crosby got whitney several million. LMAO that's really good

[@tymacdougall3140]

Crosby’s the greatest 200 foot game player ever.

[@deanmarr785]

Mark Messier

[@jeffreydean5112]

You have to play good defense to be a 200 foot player. He doesn’t stand out on defense.

[@tymacdougall3140]

@@jeffreydean5112 haha you got to be joking

[@Jimmyfly215]

Pavel Datsyuk

[@deanmarr785]

@@Jimmyfly215 Not a bad choice. Anze Kopitar for the win.

[@aaronmacrae6506]

Crosby is the greatest player ever

[@SouthernSkeptic]

Uhhh, no.

[@poz1905]

#99

[@Budonkya]

No. Hes top 10, maybe top 5, but gretzky is basically always #1

[@ajww1329]

He's not better than Gretzky or Bobby Orr

[@davidianson1182]

@@ajww1329 he really is though. They played in such shitty eras comparatively that neither of them needed to be as good as Crosby to succeed to the level they did even statistically

[@liamdichiro5070]

Gretzky Mario crosby

[@KaleFGB]

did Orr just get snapped by Thanos? Typical Pens fan

[@liamdichiro5070]

@@KaleFGB 4 or 5

[@hbkslazyeye8865]

Jumbo’s number 1 right??

[@peterchiarelli9712]

In what? Playoff exits...?

[@citizenkane454]

Top 2 and not 2

[@subbydagwoods]

How do you have a top 5 and not mention #4. Whit you should be ashamed

[@Devineservent17]

Ovi over crosby forrsure. McDavid is going to surpass crosby but will never break ovi or gretz record

[@MrRiley1997]

No shit

[@menachr]

Mike bossy greatest goal scorer ever. Most goals per game all time.

[@brocklucas4551]

I'm not Isles fan ( Leafs fan) but I agree. 4 cups in 10 seasons. Nearly 600 goals. 9 straight 50 goal seasons, 85 playoff goals. If he stayed healthy and wanted to ( I remember watching an interview where he said he only wanted to play 10 seasons) he may have come close to the record or at the very least 800 goals. Criminally underrated and doesn't get mentioned enough. My Top 5 Gretsky Lemieix Orr Bossy Crosby Honourable Mentions: Stevie Y, Ovechkin, Messier, Sakic, Mr. Hockey

[@menachr]

@@brocklucas4551 leafs fan too! so there's 2 things we agree on!

[@menachr]

@@brocklucas4551 hard to leave rocket richard off the list. It's a tough choice

[@connormcteer3319]

The list requires the rocket or Mr. Hockey, it'd be pretty unfair considering what they did with what they had. Take Gordie for example, guy woulda had hardly any workout routine and ate whatever he wanted yet in today's game he'd still be the most ripped guy. Imagine Gordie with today's technology, he woulda been a monster.

[@menachr]

@@connormcteer3319 and today's equipment

[@CipherSerpico]

Best Players Of All Time 1. Wayne Gretzky 2. Mario Lemieux 3. Sidney Crosby 4. Bobby Orr 5. Peter Forsberg Best Goal Scorers 1. Mario Lemieux 2. Wayne Gretzky 3. Alex Ovechkin 4. Mike Bossy 5. Pavel Bure Best Playermakers Of All Time 1. Wayne Gretzky 2. Peter Forsberg 3. Joe Thornton 4. Pavel Datsyuk 5. Sidney Crosby Most Talented Players Of All Time 1. Mario Lemieux 2. Sidney Crosby 3. Alex Ovechkin 4. Pavel Datsyuk 5. Ilya Kovalchuk 6. Alex Kovalev 7. Pavel Bure 8. Peter Forsberg 9. Gilbert Perreault 10. Jaromir Jagr Greatest All Around Players 1. Peter Forsberg 2. Pavel Datsyuk 3. Sergei Federov 4. Steve Yzerman 5. Bobby Clarke

[@MRygreb]

Brett hull in best scorers maybe?

[@sebastiendekleva1361]

As a lifelong avs fan, I don't know if I would slot Forsberg so high my guy. Good list though.

[@CipherSerpico]

@@sebastiendekleva1361 How dare you? Take it back, before I start punting babies across the freeway.

[@CipherSerpico]

@@MRygreb Thought about naming him.

[@MrJordwalk]

Even though he's only 5 years into his career, I think you can add Connor McDavid to the Best Playmakers Of All Time (Honorable Mention at the very least). 52 points in 30 games so far this year, on pace for 70 or more points in 56 games. Also recently tied Sid as the 8th fastest player to score 500 points. His speed, and ability to make plays when he's speeding is just insane and he's going to be counted among the Top 10 when he retires because he's simply an artist on the ice.

[@templetonbob]

I’m biased but I’ll take Lidstrom over Crosby. Also Jagr is in the conversation.

[@chrisg7731]

Jagr hasn't done shit since the early 2000s on an individual level, and hasn't won anything as a team in the NHL since 1992 (or 98 with the Olympic gold). He played a long time, like Howe. He had a great career, but honestly, to play as long as he did, be the icon he was, and never win without Lemieux in his prime really doesn't look good. He hardly had a point per game in the playoffs, even before goalies got good. It's a matter of opinion, but I really don't see an argument that can be made that Jagr was better. If for no other reason, Jagr had a poor attitude for a lot of his career as well.

[@templetonbob]

@@chrisg7731 This is the most biased analysis I’ve ever seen, haha

[@chrisg7731]

@@templetonbob Which part wasn't true? When's the last time he won a cup? When's the last time Jagr was on a team that made a deep playoff run that didn't include Mario Lemieux? When's the last time he won an individual award? Given that he's a first ballot HoFer, could he have accomplished less since about 2001? It's not bias. It's facts. I defended the guy for way too long. My second hockey jersey was a Jagr jersey. I used to root for the Czechs because of him. He hasn't done a thing of note since about 2001. Call it biased if you want, but it's all facts. And it's not like the Pens didn't give him a good team. They were a great team. He just wasn't up to the task.

[@happygilmore710]

Mark Messier absolutely disrespected.

[@WaLLbAnGeR211]

I said that too

[@jackpethybridge160]

In his 5, Crosby is 5. McDavid May pass Crosby.

[@MrFlyersfan28]

McDavid will never pass Crosby.

[@ierxk9202]

McDavid doesn’t have the accolades

[@xmohawkx985]

@@ierxk9202 mcdavid may get the individual accolades yes but not the team. ..

[@Toews1247]

The Jets fuckin rule the Oilers

[@cbskwkdnslwhanznamdm2849]

Crosby is goat

[@bentao9514]

The massive vase comprehensively pour because meeting explicitly join failing a poised goose. milky, careless expert

[@Gabe-vz1bx]

ryan whitney bitching out of the golf game against riggs will forever be his career defining moment

[@joesmitt565]

Play in legit usga tournaments against top amateur players around the country, or play a fucking 6 handicap golfer who’s eyes point in different directions once for 10k, tough choice for him

[@Gabe-vz1bx]

@@joesmitt565 they didn’t care until he brought it up

[@joesmitt565]

Gabe according to who tho lol, the usga? No shit they were gonna say that

[@shawnreems493]

He makes more money then that playing in amateur tournaments. I dont understand why everybody is getting upset about this. Its like your brain cant understand how simple rules work.

[@xmohawkx985]

@@joesmitt565 lol 6 handicap for riggs? lol try 16 he's horrible

[@kareemthekicker5981]

Crosby is the best of all time

[@Jimmyfly215]

Crosby is easily the best since he was drafted. Not sure he’s top 5 though. Thats a lot of mountains of legends to climb just being respectful. Top 10 without a doubt.

[@jeffreydean5112]

I’d say Crosby is definitely top 25, maybe top 15. I’d have to make a list. Can’t forget Forsberg, Sakic, Messier, Yzerman. There have been so many great great players.

[@bryanb7050]

You know nothing about hockey if you’re even speaking those names next to Crosby and you’re saying top 15. Please walk away now

[@michaelshields6326]

Crosby has surpassed all those guys at this point. If he had stayed healthier during the regular season he would easily have 4 or 5 Art Ross wins and 4 or 5 Hart/Ted Lindsays to go with 3 cups, 2 Conn Smythes, 2 Olympic golds, 2 Rocket Richards.

[@deanmarr785]

Not sure if he is top 5 all time. He certainly is the greatest player of his era. Top 5 in Crosby era 1. Crosby 2. Anze Kopitar 3. Patrick Kane 4. Gino Malkin 5. Jonathan Toews.

[@chrissweatshirt1173]

No Ovi..

[@creepyrobsta5509]

Toews is a great Captain, but you can't ignore points. JT has never even scored more than 81 points...and most years averages around 63, so points obviously aren't the only thing, but they definitely would take him out of the list of the greats.

[@deanmarr785]

@@creepyrobsta5509 Good point. Ovi for Toews even though Ovi is a one dimensional player.

[@owendevine6165]

@@deanmarr785 he’s one dimensional BUT he’s the best to ever do it at his “dimension”

[@deanmarr785]

@@owendevine6165 Good point. But hockey is more than just scoring. As a life long King fan I saw 2 of the greatest scorers of all time play, Gretzky and Dionne, but I would have much rather have had Mark Messier because he is the greatest example of a complete hockey player. 6 rings for Messier, 2 without #99.

[@rapturousspearhead]

Datsyuk was better at his peak than peak Crosby however

[@kenkonwick6660]

Not a chance. Datsyuk was inconsistent and slightly above average at best. He was nit even tge best player on his own team.

[@takethehorizon5250]

No shot

[@nickwatts7640]

You are 100% all alone on that

[@MrRheostatic]

Lol

[@traviscampolong8881]

I had to read this a few times because I couldn’t even believe what I was seeing. You’re so wrong on that.

[@kylejohnson9051]

Ovi is 100x better

[@isidro9911]

Lol.

[@nickwatts7640]

Different style players but overall better player is Crosby, Ovi is a great goal scorer but Crosby makes everybody on the ice better

[@MrRheostatic]

Good one.

[@Jiff321]

Top 5 lol. Right. Hes great. But not top 5

[@guyfuckenfieri5033]

Lets hear your top 5?

[@hunterscott990]

Crosby fans have brain damage. The guy ranks 36 in all time scoring. Saying crosby is the goat would be the same as saying James Harden or Pau Gasol is better than Lebron. Let's be real people. Crosby is not a top 3 penguin (Lemieux, Malkin Jagr, Paul Coffey, Ron Francis, Fleury easily outrank him). Also, if he is so great. Why does he have more than half of his playoff runs ending in a first round exit

[@nathanielrothman7350]

Crosby is only 36th in points because he missed over 200 games. His point per game if he didn’t miss the game would put him at 1700 points.

[@hunterscott990]

@@nathanielrothman7350 Thoughts on why this "all time great" gets eliminated in the playoffs in the first two rounds constantly. I honestly suspect he's a better golfer than hockey player. He should quit and join the PGA

[@christopherarnold4232]

Crosby is 8th all time in playoff scoring. Literally the only people with more points in the playoffs are the 1980s Oilers, Brett Hull, and Jaromir Jagr. He’s played almost 40 fewer games than both Hull and Jagr, and he’s only 13 points back on Jagr (1 point back on Hull). He’s also got two Conn Smythe trophies, and is one of only 3 players to win back-to-back Conn Smythes. Not even Gretzky or Howe accomplished that. There are only two players in NHL history that have over 1000 games played and have a higher points per game than Crosby: Gretzky and Dionne. Crosby needs about 300 more career points to get to top 10 all time regular season points. I think he’ll get there. Crosby is all-time.

[@hunterscott990]

@@christopherarnold4232 I doubt he sees a second round for the remainder of his career. Hence, I doubt he scores much more. Also those playoff mvps are a joke. Let's be real. He is not a superstar. He is just a guy.

[@hunterscott990]

@@nathanielrothman7350 Him missing approx 200 games goes even further to prove he aint that great. We applaud MJ and Lebron because they do not get hurt. Crosby is glass and he does and gets hurt despite no guys ever challenging him physically.