Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby were once bitter rivals. Now, according to Ovechkin, they’re “best friends”. And Sunday, the two future Hall of Famers will skate together on the same line again during the 2018 NHL All-Star Game.
Metropolitan Division head coach Barry Trotz announced the move on NHL Network.
According to Trotz, if you have a chance to put two of the best players in the league together on the same line, you have to do it. Especially given the relationship between the two players as the most prominent faces of the post-lockout NHL.
Via NHL Network and a Tom Gulitti transcription:
Trotz: I think that would be special for the fans. Coming out of the (2004-2005) lockout, they really kept the league afloat in a lot of ways. They were the two faces that you talk about. They were the guys that everybody got excited seeing playing against each other. If, knock on wood, no one gets hurt from now to then, then I’m probably going to put them together for sure. I think that would be something you might only see once or twice.
During All-Star Media Day, Trotz reiterated his plans to Michael Russo.
Barry Trotz plans to play Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby together in the All-Star Game “just for my own satisfaction” #caps #pens #nhl
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) January 27, 2018
Last year, Crosby and Ovechkin, nicknamed Crosvechkin, received a slice of a million dollar NHL bonus after the Metropolitan Division All-Stars, led by coach Wayne Gretzky, won the ASG’s three-on-three tournament. Crosby and Ovechkin lacked chemistry, but both tallied assists on each other’s goals.
The newfound friendship, however, weirded out several players including PK Subban.
“Who would have thought you two guys, eh?” Subban said then. “F*cking together, hanging out. Same team.”
More #Crosvechkin from the bench pic.twitter.com/dbIjOvN5ZI
— RMNB (@russianmachine) January 29, 2017
Yup. It’s still weird.
