from Frank Seravalli of TSN,

Ten years ago, the NHL banked on the star power of Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin to bring hockey back from the brink of a year-long lockout. Hard to believe it’s been that long.

The hype and the shine have worn off the rivalry, but the debate rages on. And after 10 years, it’s appropriate to once again raise the question: Which player is better?

“Are you kidding me right now?” Ovechkin answered on Wednesday, laughing.

It wasn’t clear whether Ovechkin’s rhetorical answer was a dig at the ridiculously nuanced and polarizing question, or whether that was his way of saying he is the answer.

But for the first time in a long time, Ovechkin can be the answer to that question. Three or four years ago, it was one not even worth asking. Crosby was the clear-cut and runaway winner.

More interesting than any hate that exists between the Penguins and Capitals is the ebb-and-flow of the stock prices of Crosby and Ovechkin on the NHL market since they first clashed on Nov. 22, 2005 at the old Igloo.

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