The Pittsburgh captain reflected on a long rivalry with Washington’s star and said he hopes Ovechkin continues to enjoy the game.
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby said he was glad Alexander Ovechkin had finally clarified a question he had often been asked. Crosby said the Washington captain could now enjoy playing and concentrate on hockey.
“We’ve had a lot of great battles over the years. When you reach our age, you have to make decisions like that. The most important thing is that he is happy and keeps enjoying the game,” Crosby said.
He said he and Ovechkin were set against each other before they had even met, and that both were intensely competitive. Their playoff meetings and long history as rivals would have made close friendship difficult at first, Crosby said, but over time they became friends and developed great respect.
“When you play against someone for so long, are constantly compared and meet each other so often, those relationships and respect develop naturally,” he said.
Ovechkin has played for the Washington Capitals since 2005. Washington is scheduled to host Pittsburgh in its first home game of the 2026–27 season on the night of October 7–8.