Alex Ovechkin offered a telling glimpse into how he views today’s NHL stars during a recent Russian interview. Taking part in a blind ranking challenge, the Washington Capitals captain placed Connor McDavid at No. 1 before knowing which names would follow.
When McDavid’s name appeared first, Ovechkin wasted little time making his decision.
“Alright, [McDavid], first.”
The host immediately questioned whether the choice came too quickly, asking, “Straight away?”
“Yes,” Ovechkin replied.
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When asked if he was giving McDavid too much credit because “there are others who are legit too,” Ovechkin stood by his decision.
“No, I’ve played against him. I know he’s tough,” Ovechkin said.
As the ranking continued, Ovechkin eventually placed Sidney Crosby second and himself third.
True greatness recognizes greatness in others. Alexander Ovechkin ranked himself third and you can definitely guess who took the first two spots pic.twitter.com/eul2H2Dqg8
— Uggg (@Uggg_uggg) July 29, 2026
The result was notable because the format prevented him from knowing which players would appear next, making his immediate endorsement of McDavid even more revealing.
Ovechkin’s ranking reflects Connor McDavid’s place in today’s NHL
McDavid’s selection comes after another dominant campaign with the Edmonton Oilers. The 29-year-old finished the 2025-26 regular season with 48 goals, 90 assists and a league-leading 138 points, capturing his sixth Art Ross Trophy and fifth Ted Lindsay Award.
His international performances further strengthened his reputation. McDavid captained Canada to the 4 Nations Face-Off title before leading the country to an Olympic silver medal at the 2026 Winter Games. He earned Olympic MVP honors after recording 13 points, including a tournament-best 11 assists.
For Ovechkin, the praise carries extra weight because it comes from firsthand experience. The Capitals captain has faced McDavid throughout the latter’s NHL career and has repeatedly seen the speed, vision and offensive creativity that separate him from the rest of the league.
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While fans often debate whether Crosby or McDavid deserves the title of hockey’s best player, Ovechkin made his preference clear without hesitation.
Three legends from different generations
The ranking also highlights the unique legacies of three generational stars.
Ovechkin, now the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer, continued adding to his remarkable career and has reached 929 regular-season goals and 1,006 combined goals across the regular season and playoffs during the 2025-26 season. Even at age 40, he still scored 32 goals in all 82 games.
Crosby, meanwhile, remained one of the league’s most complete players. The Pittsburgh Penguins captain recorded 74 points in 68 games and surpassed Mario Lemieux for the most combined regular-season and playoff points in franchise history. He has continued his point per game pace for 21 seasons now.
Yet Ovechkin still put McDavid above both himself and Crosby. That decision speaks less about diminishing two accomplished careers and more about recognizing the player currently setting the standard across the NHL.
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Great players often understand greatness better than anyone else. In this case, Ovechkin’s blind ranking suggested that, in his view, McDavid remains the league’s benchmark.
