Crosby, Malkin on Ovechkin’s retirement decision as Penguins-Capitals rivalry heads into final matchup window

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin said they “appreciate” Alex Ovechkin’s legacy after the Washington Capitals captain announced Monday that this season will be his final NHL campaign, his 22nd in the league. The comments, delivered by the two Pittsburgh Penguins forwards while preparing for a 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets at PPG Paints Arena on Monday, place a rare consensus tone on the rivalry that has long defined the Metropolitan Division’s top matchups between the Penguins and Capitals.

Crosby, 39, said he was informed of Ovechkin’s decision just after leaving the ice following a morning skate before he returned to questions that primarily centered on Ovechkin’s announcement. Crosby framed the moment as one the league’s veteran forward should be able to manage with focus and enjoyment rather than uncertainty. “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,” Crosby said, adding that at their stage of careers decisions often come down to whether a player is happy and enjoying the game.

Malkin, 40, made an exception to address Ovechkin directly, delivering a character assessment that emphasized longevity, knowledge of the League, and Ovechkin’s standing with fans. “I mean, he’s done everything,” Malkin said. He pointed to Ovechkin’s 22 seasons of NHL play and described the challenge of maintaining a high level night after night, while also highlighting the relationship between a player’s durability and the public profile that comes with it. “But again, he did everything for a team, a league,” Malkin added, wishing Ovechkin a healthy season and the chance to “enjoy the game.”

The history behind the current season’s retirement decision is rooted in how quickly Crosby and Ovechkin were thrust into NHL spotlight as teenagers. Crosby was selected by the Penguins with the No. 1 pick of the 2005 NHL Draft, while Ovechkin was taken by Washington with the No. 1 pick of the 2004 NHL Draft. One pick later, Pittsburgh chose Malkin with the No. 2 selection that same 2004 draft cycle came after Ovechkin went first.

Both Crosby and Ovechkin debuted in 2005-06, in a period when the NHL was emerging from the lockout that canceled the 2004-05 season. In Crosby’s telling, entering the league at 18 carried a kind of responsibility that was difficult to calibrate without comparison at that age. “You don’t really have anything to compare it to at 18 years old, but now you do,” Crosby said, describing the pressure he felt and the learning curve that came with being asked to do more than simply play games.

Crosby’s recollection extended to the way young players are handled publicly, especially early in an NHL career when expectations can outpace demonstrated resume. Crosby said he felt like there was a sense that a young player “maybe [had] to do extra,” referring to promotional and off-ice obligations that he believed were partly driven by the situation rather than verified performance. He described the period as one of “a lot of learning” that shaped how he understood responsibility in the NHL.

The early awards backdrop in the League’s scoring and attention mirror Malkin’s view that Ovechkin’s impact has always been built on comprehensive achievements. The source notes that Ovechkin won the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year with 106 points in 81 games (52 goals, 54 assists), with Crosby finishing second at 102 points in 81 games (39 goals, 63 assists). Malkin joined the cohort in 2006-07 and later won the Calder after scoring 85 points in 78 games (33 goals, 52 assists).

Malkin also recalled the internal emotion of draft night and how closely the selections were tied to the same franchise-facing narrative the Penguins-Capitals rivalry would become. He described feeling “nervous” that he might not be second after Ovechkin was officially selected as No. 1, but he also described the night as “a special night” with “a lot of good memories together,” adding that the two Russians “always try to support each other” and “play hard.”

Beyond individual milestones, the rivalry has carried repeated stakes in the postseason. The source states that the Penguins and Capitals have met four times in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with Ovechkin and Washington facing Crosby and Pittsburgh in matchups while both teams were led by those stars. The winner lifted the Stanley Cup in each of those series, with Pittsburgh winning in 2009, 2016 and 2017 and Washington winning in 2018.

Crosby said the competitive framing between the two players was nearly inevitable from the start, given the way their early NHL entry created a built-in narrative. “It’s kind of a natural thing to happen,” Crosby said, while also stressing that over time he developed friendship and deep respect for Ovechkin as their careers continued and playoff matchups kept coming. Crosby described a shift away from only being “compared” players toward recognition that long-term contests create familiarity, respect and mutual understanding.

The source also details Ovechkin’s statistical prominence and current standing among active scorers. It states that Ovechkin has scored 929 career goals, the most in NHL history, including 44 goals in 83 games against the Penguins. It further lists his 1,688 career points as second among active players, behind Crosby and ahead of Malkin, with Crosby identified in the source as having 1,763 points (654 goals, 1,109 assists) and Malkin as having 1,411 points (535 goals, 876 assists).

Other members of the NHL have also weighed in on Ovechkin’s legacy in the same material. New York Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov, identified as having been Ovechkin’s teammate with the Capitals from 2008-11, characterized Ovechkin as an “iconic” scorer and emphasized his standing with fans and across hockey cultures. “The game would be different without him,” Varlamov said, adding that the experience of playing alongside him included shared time on the ice for national team competition and a broader level of respect for Ovechkin beyond North America.

The source connects Ovechkin’s and Crosby’s careers through shared awards and the rhythm of Metropolitan Division games. It states the three players have combined to win the Hart Trophy as League MVP six times (Ovechkin three, Crosby two, Malkin one), the Art Ross Trophy as League leading scorer five times (Crosby two, Malkin two, Ovechkin one), the Rocket Richard Trophy for goals leader 11 times (Ovechkin nine, Crosby two), the Ted Lindsay Award seven times (Ovechkin three, Crosby three, Malkin one) and the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP four times (Crosby two, Malkin one, Ovechkin one).

With the retirement decision confirmed for this season, the Penguins and Capitals still have multiple meetings remaining on the calendar. The source says their next matchup is Wednesday at Capital One Arena, with the game scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET and listed on HBO MAX and TNT. It adds that they will also play Jan. 18 and March 13 in Pittsburgh, and April 4 in Washington, extending the final-chapter context around Ovechkin’s NHL timeline.

Malkin said every game against Crosby and every game against Ovechkin has carried an extra layer of significance since both players entered the NHL in 2006-07, and he described the mindset of approaching potential final outings as the season progresses. “Every game is special,” Malkin said, and he added that even after a player is believed to be nearing a last game, the rivalry often continues with “a couple more games,” creating more opportunities for shared moments.

As the season moves toward Ovechkin’s concluding campaign, Crosby’s and Malkin’s comments frame a transition from day-to-day rivalry to a recognition of long-term impact on a league defined by enduring careers. Their remarks also underline how the Penguins-Capitals matchups remain central to NHL attention—now with the knowledge that one of the rivalry’s defining figures has chosen his final season while staying focused on the game itself.