What an incredible past two decades and a half it has been for NHL fans! While the game has seen a massive transformation over the years since 2000, there have also emerged several players who have cemented their names in the elite list of NHL stars. With Wayne Gretzky retiring just before the turn of the 21st century, there were question marks if his legacy could be carried forward. Nonetheless, it was also the time of the emergence of many young stars like Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, who have enthralled the fans during this period. Earlier today, a rare list went viral on social media, which is sure to surprise many fans.
Recently, the NHL started a poll on X for the league’s quarter-century team. Fans can vote on the platform by using the hashtag #NHLQCTeam and the player’s full name or handle. However, as of today, the rankings present quite a surprise given how things have panned out.
Interestingly, Sidney Crosby tops the list, earning more votes than Alex Ovechkin, who is placed second. The Penguins captain has certainly been the favorite among the fans, even as Ovechkin nears Wayne Gretzky’s record for the most goals scored in the NHL. Ovechkin is followed by Connor McDavid and Patrick Kane, who have been the stars to watch out for this season. Some other names for whom the fans voted for in large numbers included the likes of Marc-Andre Fleury, Nathan MacKinnon, and Martin Brodeur.
Here’s where we stand with #NHLQCTeam voting so far.
Vote on X by using #NHLQCTeam and a player’s full name or handle!
NHL Quarter-Century Team presented by @SAP pic.twitter.com/kOAt1IsMna
— NHL (@NHL) March 14, 2025
One of the reasons why the fans might have voted more for Crosby than Ovechkin could be the fact that the former is also in the running to break a rare Wayne Gretzky record this season. Crosby has scored 72 points this season and is well on course to breach the 80-point mark. If he does so, it would be his 20th season where he has scored more points per game on average in a season. This would break a tie with The Great One for the most ever.
Amid the chase for Gertzky’s unique feat, Crosby is drawing all the attention as he sets his sights on this record. Recently, his former Penguins teammate, Ryan Whitney opened up about Crosby achieving this feat.
Ryan Whitney lauds Sidney Crosby ahead of his record-shattering feat
Crosby has been a talismanic figure for the Penguins, helping them to win three Stanley Cup titles during his illustrious career. Further, he has also gone on to achieve many personal feats over the years, among which is chasing The Great One’s record. As he nears Gretzky’s record, his former teammate, Whitney was all praise of him.
During the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, he said, “With all the talk about Ovi and his goal chase and how cool this story is, there is a Crosby side to this and what he’s chasing. And that is that if Sid finishes this year with a point per game or better, he would break Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record of 20 seasons as a point-per-game player or better… That’s an amazing thing to see happen, and just incredible and unfortunate to see Pittsburgh struggling so much, but to see Crosby still doing his thing.”
Despite Crosby’s personal feat, the Penguins have struggled for the major part of this season. They are currently the bottom-placed team in the Metropolitan Division, with hopes of making it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs diminishing. The team needs Crosby to deliver the heroics at this time if they have to keep the playoff chances alive.
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