Is It Time To Put Ovechkin vs Crosby to Bed?

Is Sid vs Ovi Even a Debate Anymore??

Living in the state of Maryland I am faced with this debate every hockey season.  Who is better?  Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin?  Some truly want to know my response, while others want to ignite a debate on who is the "best player in the world".  I am a Penguins fan, so naturally my answer is Sidney Crosby.  However, my response is more articulated than just "I'm a Penguins fan, so Sidney Crosby is the best player!"  No, my long answer to that question is that Crosby is the better OVERALL player.  Not only has he been a captain longer than Ovechkin, he has a more important role on his team.  Crosby plays center, so obviously he has to take face offs (something he has become quite good at), he now plays on the Penalty Kill, and is also brought in on defensive zone face offs to win the draw and get off the ice.  Crosby is a better overall point getter as well.  Crosby reads the ice better than anyone in the game and has the speed and tenacity to win those "50/50" puck battles and create scoring chances for others.  He has improved his scoring touch through the years, but he is not a pure goal scorer like Ovechkin.  Notice that in my reasoning as to why Crosby is better than Ovechkin I didn't list individual awards.  Sure, Ovechkin has his share of trophies (2 Hart Trophies, Art Ross Trophy, 2 "Rocket" Richard Trophies, and some smaller awards on top of those), but then again so does Sidney Crosby ("Rocket" Richard Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, Hart Trophy, Stanley Cup Trophy, Gold Medal, Sporting News Player of the Year, and other smaller awards).

The point of this article is not to continue the debate between Ovechkin and Crosby, but to try and figure out if the debate is even warranted anymore?  Is it time to put this thing to bed?  After all, Crosby (even after missing almost an entire calendar year due to head and neck injuries) has been the more effective player since the 2009 season when Crosby's Penguins knocked out Ovechkin's Capitals in 7 games in the NHL Playoffs.  Everyone has their own opinion about who is better...Capitals fans will ALWAYS say "The Great 8" and Penguins fans will ALWAYS say "Sid the Kid".  Either way, you are entitled to your opinion, but my question remains.  Is the debate even warranted anymore?

THAT is what I want to know from you.  Put your opinion in the "Comments" section below, or mention me on Twitter (@BnGBlitz).