Objectively speaking, is he wrong? Sincerely asking.
clonicle
They were the next big thing after the Gretzky/Lemieux era. There may have been a lull if it wasn’t them, but that vacuum would have been filled.
But let’s be real. The only thing the NHL needs saving from is in the Commissioner’s Office.
crispybark
Crosby and Ovi 100% saved the NHL
Bobdonwon
Heās not wrong. Canāt wait to see who takes their places.
Stockersandwhich
Heās not wrong. Crosby is among the league leaders in points after 2 decades in the league. Ovi is chasing history. They arnt gone.
If it werenāt for them after the lockout, Bettman wouldāve been shitting their pants.
PoemInternational605
He didnāt say āheā saved the league. He said āweā. He AND Crosby. In a lot of ways they did. They definitely brought another spark. Crosby lead Pittsburg to multiple cups, and Ovi was a scoring machine. The rivalry they have had has been one of the best is pro sports. They are the Manning/Brady of the NHL. just my opinion.
SnakeCharmer711
He isnāt wrong, post lockout NHL was struggling hence the rule changes that were meant to draw in a betrayed fan base, Ovi and Sid rivalry was some of the best and most competitive hockey ever, tbh the Ovi/Malkin feud was crazier imo even though everyone was focused on Sid and Ovi
Brookie069
He is absolutely right, and I am glad he recognizes Crosby as his equal in that instead of trying to one up him. Shows some real maturity from where they started.
PeteysHurtAgain
No. The lockout and finally enforcing the rules saved the NHL.
Scamnam
He’s got a point. They both came into the league after the dead puck era and the start of the salary cap era. .. I can’t recall any rivalry before them during the late 90s early 2000 that was hyped up as Crosby VS Ovechkin
TacticalMadness19
I have become to respect Ovi. Hate that motherfucker when the Pens and Caps play but yes, him and Crosby is a rivalry that like Lemieux and Gretzky, will be talked about forever, Ovi and Sid help spark the next generation of players. The dude is not wrong.
InsideErmine69
Crosby definitely saved the penguins they damn near relocated
JoeIsIce
I wouldn’t go so far as to say he and Crosby “saved” the league, but they definitely carried the torch passed from guys like Gretzky and Lemuiex, and carried it damn well. Two of the most dominant and influential players of their generation. So hopefully new guys like McDavid, Makar and Bedard can carry it with as much class and skill as they did!
FuzzyClint
Why is he whining about this
Icefiight
Saved may be a stretch but damn did their arrival time perfectly with the old guard leaving (Gretzky/Lemieux) and the league coming out of a lockoutā¦.
So it does feel like they brought the nhl ābackā almost like bird and magic did to bball, but on a lower scale.
Amazing two that the sport is happy to have to still kicking too
sandysanBAR
The empty net goal record isnt going to set itself.
guywhois0nline
Idk how you can look at the current NHL landscape and say that anything is “saved”.
Blackouts, lack of nationally televised games, absurdly priced streaming platforms are killing the NHL in a way that a few star players can’t save.
Comet_Empire
A bit grandiose. Did they have a positive impact, sure. Save the league…nope. If they never existed the NHL would have been just fine. It’s all speculation. Who knows maybe the league would be twice as big if they never existed or maybe it would be AHL2 and 5 teams smaller.
getzysbaldhead69
They absolutely did. I remember watching in early 2000s and coming out of the lockout, that Crosby vs Ovi rivalry was the most exciting and interesting thing in hockey in a long time
LT568690
Finally implementing a salary cap saved the NHL not any player.
SilkyBowner
Lol ok
NickFotiu
Yeah right – he’ll probably claim that his breaking of Gretzky’s goal record one day brought peace to the middle east too.
Brickback721
Jerome Iginla has entered the chat š¬
XolieInc
They didnāt save the NHL, they just saved the penguins and capitals
SomeJerkOddball
From what?
thereal_omegavince
Was there a question that prompted this quote?
MooseInternational17
Me thinks bedard getting all the attention is getting to him.
ChuckFeathers
From who? Ukraine?
farstate55
No, he/they did not save the league. Apparently, he has a very self centered view of the league.
JiffTheJester
Do you live on Reddit?
TJTrapJesus
Most unlikable athlete in pro sports
MtSilverR3d
Patrick Kane and Patrice Bergeron can go pound sand apparently.
jointcanuck
Yea are you kidding me? Him and crosby absolutely saved the league
Belmonster21
The league was really great built around those 2.. Now sadly it’s very stagnant. The sport I feel is losing a lot of steam
34 Comments
Objectively speaking, is he wrong? Sincerely asking.
They were the next big thing after the Gretzky/Lemieux era. There may have been a lull if it wasn’t them, but that vacuum would have been filled.
But let’s be real. The only thing the NHL needs saving from is in the Commissioner’s Office.
Crosby and Ovi 100% saved the NHL
Heās not wrong. Canāt wait to see who takes their places.
Heās not wrong. Crosby is among the league leaders in points after 2 decades in the league. Ovi is chasing history. They arnt gone.
If it werenāt for them after the lockout, Bettman wouldāve been shitting their pants.
He didnāt say āheā saved the league. He said āweā. He AND Crosby. In a lot of ways they did. They definitely brought another spark. Crosby lead Pittsburg to multiple cups, and Ovi was a scoring machine. The rivalry they have had has been one of the best is pro sports. They are the Manning/Brady of the NHL. just my opinion.
He isnāt wrong, post lockout NHL was struggling hence the rule changes that were meant to draw in a betrayed fan base, Ovi and Sid rivalry was some of the best and most competitive hockey ever, tbh the Ovi/Malkin feud was crazier imo even though everyone was focused on Sid and Ovi
He is absolutely right, and I am glad he recognizes Crosby as his equal in that instead of trying to one up him. Shows some real maturity from where they started.
No. The lockout and finally enforcing the rules saved the NHL.
He’s got a point. They both came into the league after the dead puck era and the start of the salary cap era. .. I can’t recall any rivalry before them during the late 90s early 2000 that was hyped up as Crosby VS Ovechkin
I have become to respect Ovi. Hate that motherfucker when the Pens and Caps play but yes, him and Crosby is a rivalry that like Lemieux and Gretzky, will be talked about forever, Ovi and Sid help spark the next generation of players. The dude is not wrong.
Crosby definitely saved the penguins they damn near relocated
I wouldn’t go so far as to say he and Crosby “saved” the league, but they definitely carried the torch passed from guys like Gretzky and Lemuiex, and carried it damn well. Two of the most dominant and influential players of their generation. So hopefully new guys like McDavid, Makar and Bedard can carry it with as much class and skill as they did!
Why is he whining about this
Saved may be a stretch but damn did their arrival time perfectly with the old guard leaving (Gretzky/Lemieux) and the league coming out of a lockoutā¦.
So it does feel like they brought the nhl ābackā almost like bird and magic did to bball, but on a lower scale.
Amazing two that the sport is happy to have to still kicking too
The empty net goal record isnt going to set itself.
Idk how you can look at the current NHL landscape and say that anything is “saved”.
Blackouts, lack of nationally televised games, absurdly priced streaming platforms are killing the NHL in a way that a few star players can’t save.
A bit grandiose. Did they have a positive impact, sure. Save the league…nope. If they never existed the NHL would have been just fine. It’s all speculation. Who knows maybe the league would be twice as big if they never existed or maybe it would be AHL2 and 5 teams smaller.
They absolutely did. I remember watching in early 2000s and coming out of the lockout, that Crosby vs Ovi rivalry was the most exciting and interesting thing in hockey in a long time
Finally implementing a salary cap saved the NHL not any player.
Lol ok
Yeah right – he’ll probably claim that his breaking of Gretzky’s goal record one day brought peace to the middle east too.
Jerome Iginla has entered the chat š¬
They didnāt save the NHL, they just saved the penguins and capitals
From what?
Was there a question that prompted this quote?
Me thinks bedard getting all the attention is getting to him.
From who? Ukraine?
No, he/they did not save the league. Apparently, he has a very self centered view of the league.
Do you live on Reddit?
Most unlikable athlete in pro sports
Patrick Kane and Patrice Bergeron can go pound sand apparently.
Yea are you kidding me? Him and crosby absolutely saved the league
The league was really great built around those 2..
Now sadly it’s very stagnant. The sport I feel is losing a lot of steam
NFL is also in the exact same boat