Crosby, Malkin appreciate Ovechkin's legacy, 'he did everything for a team, a league'

CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin Malkin appreciate Alex Ovechkin and what he brought to the NHL. 

At one point, the very notion of that being true might have been absurd. But now, the two veteran Pittsburgh Penguins forwards have an unwavering respect for Ovechkin, their primary antagonist as captain of the Metropolitan Division rival Washington Capitals.

So when news hit Monday that Ovechkin, 41, had decided this season, his 22nd in the NHL, would be his final one, Crosby and Malkin broke from some norms.

Preparing for a game against the Winnipeg Jets at PPG Paints Arena on Monday (7:30 p.m. ET; SN-PIT, SN+), Crosby was told of Ovechkin's decision just after leaving the ice following a morning skate. He then was fine fielding questions only related to Ovechkin.

"I'm sure it's something he'd be asked about a lot, so it's nice for him to just be able to get that out there and enjoy playing and focus on hockey," said Crosby, 39. "So, yeah, definitely have had some great battles over the years, and obviously when you get to our age that's something that you have to make decisions on. For him, as long as he's happy and enjoying it, that's the biggest thing."

Malkin never speaks after morning skates, under any circumstance. He made an exception Monday to discuss Ovechkin.

"I mean, he's done everything," said Malkin, 40. "He's played like, what, 22 years? Probably he understands, like, (the) League really good. It's not easy, same as myself. I don't know, maybe it's my last year too. But I still love this game. But again, it's not easy to play every night, but it's hard because, like, he's a legend. The fans love him, you know? But again, he did everything for a team, a league. I hope he plays good this year, no injury. He just stay healthy, score goals and enjoy the game."

Crosby was selected by Pittsburgh with the No. 1 pick of the 2005 NHL Draft, one year after Ovechkin was taken by the Capitals with the No. 1 pick of the 2004 NHL Draft. And one spot after Ovechkin went to the Capitals, the Penguins selected Malkin, a fellow Russia-born forward, at No. 2. 

In 2005-06, Crosby, at 18 years old, and Ovechkin, at 20, debuted. The League was coming out of a lockout that canceled the 2004-05 season, and the two young stars were thrust into the spotlight.

"I mean, definitely felt that," Crosby said. "You don't really have anything to compare it to at 18 years old, but now you do. And that was a big responsibility. I think the good thing about being young is maybe you're just learning yourself, you don't really understand it, but I think, yeah, looking back … I can only speak for myself, but yeah, I think I put a lot of pressure on myself.

"I felt like there was a lot of responsibility given the situation, being a young player too. You always felt like you maybe had to do extra, you know, as a young player. There were some things that you probably didn't feel like you deserved or should do because you haven't proven a thing, you haven't played a game and you're doing all this promotional stuff. So, yeah, there was a lot of learning that went through with that."

As it turns out, the hype wasn't enough. Ovechkin won the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year with 106 points (52 goals, 54 assists) in 81 games, with Crosby second after he had 102 points (39 goals, 63 assists) in 81 games.

Malkin joined them in 2006-07 and won the Calder after he had 85 points (33 goals, 52 assists) in 78 games. A few years earlier, he was worried he'd slide away from Ovechkin in the draft.

"I'm nervous a little bit," Malkin said of draft day. "We sit all of us together and we understand … that he's No. 1, for sure. But after he's official No. 1, I remember I'm nervous because I think maybe I'm not (the) second one. Maybe I'm third, fourth. 

"So I start (to get) a little bit shaky with my hands, but it's a special night too. A lot of good memories together. We always try to support each other, try to play hard and show (our) best. ... It's crazy. But again, we've done everything."

The rivalry is real between the Penguins and Capitals and their stars. Ovechkin and the Capitals have faced the Penguins with Crosby and Malkin four times in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The winner has lifted the Stanley Cup each time, the Penguins in 2009, 2016 and 2017, and the Capitals in 2018.

"It's tough. You come into the League at 18 years old and before we even met, we were kind of built up against each other," Crosby said. "So it's kind of a natural thing to happen. But I think with how competitive that we are, especially coming in, trying to prove ourselves, it would've been difficult to be too close, I think, given just some of the playoff matchups and history there.

"So I think over the years, obviously, developed a friendship with him and have a ton respect for him. You play against someone that long and you're compared and see each other enough, I think that's something that builds over time."

Ovechkin has scored 929 goals, the most in NHL history, including 44 in 83 games against the Penguins. His 1,688 points are second among active players, between Crosby (1,763 points; 654 goals, 1,109 assists) in first and Malkin (1,411; 535 goals, 876 assists) in third.

"Ovi's a legend. He's (an) iconic player," said New York Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov, who was Ovechkin's teammate with the Capitals from 2008-11. "He's the best scorer of all time, and I can just go on and on and on. Everybody knows what he's done for the game. The game would be different without him. He's been out there for 20-something years. It's been a lot of fun watching him.

"He's a great person. He has a big heart, and then we share a lot of games, like playing for a national team. He's very (respected) around the league, around the world, around the hockey world, and then especially in Russia. Yeah, he's the man."

Malkin carries similar weight in Russia. Crosby is the face of hockey in Canada.

The three of them have combined to win the Hart Trophy as League MVP six times (Ovechkin, three; Crosby, two; Malkin, one), the Art Ross Trophy as the League's leading scorer five times (Crosby, two; Malkin, two; Ovechkin, one), the Rocket Richard Trophy as goals leader 11 times (Ovechkin, nine; Crosby, two), the Ted Lindsay Award as the most outstanding player as voted by members of the NHL Players' Association seven times (Ovechkin, three; Crosby, three; Malkin, one) and the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP four times (Crosby, two; Malkin, one; Ovechkin, one).

"To be in the same division for as long as we have been too, see each other in playoff matchups and things like that, there were always comparisons," Crosby said. "There are always players that are compared to each other, but they don't necessarily have the matchups all the time, or they play in different conferences and things like that. The way that it's worked out in this case, we've seen a lot of each other and that rivalry has kind of remained over that time." 

It'll continue Wednesday, with the first of the last times, when the Penguins and Capitals face each other at Capital One Arena (7:30 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, TNT). They'll also play Jan. 18 and March 13 in Pittsburgh, and April 4 in Washington.

"Every game is special," Malkin said. "When we started in 2006-07, every game against Sid and Ovi, it's a special night. And again, remember, like last year, we think maybe he play last game, but now, like a couple more games. Maybe a couple more pictures together.

"Again, when he'll retire, of course it'll be a sad day for everybody. But again, he's a legend. It's always fun to play against Washington, against him, you know, play (as) teammates, play against him. He's (a) good friend. I send him positive vibes. I hope he enjoys this year."

NHL.com independent correspondent Stefen Rosner contributed to this report