Nathan MacKinnon, a Stanley Cup champion and recognized as one of the premier forwards of his generation, shared his opinion on who he believes is the better player between Alex Ovechkin and Jaromir Jagr. This statement came during a social media segment where MacKinnon was asked to pick between some of hockey’s greats, igniting fresh discussion in the ongoing Alex Ovechkin better player debate.
Despite Ovechkin’s reputation as one of the best goal scorers in NHL history, MacKinnon ultimately chose Jagr over him after a brief pause, revealing a surprising preference. The exchange went as follows:
Producer: Jagr or Alex Ovechkin?
MacKinnon: [4 seconds go by as he stares into the abyss]
Uhhhhhh. That’s really hard….
I’ll go Jagr.
Evaluating the Legacies: Comparing Jagr and Ovechkin Statistically and Historically
Both Jaromir Jagr and Alex Ovechkin stand out as iconic forwards in the NHL, but with different strengths. Jagr is widely regarded as a superior playmaker with remarkable career longevity, while Ovechkin excels as a prolific goal scorer and dynamic offensive threat. Their head-to-head statistics reflect these differences, showing that Jagr’s skill set revolves more around point production, whereas Ovechkin leads in goal scoring and certain clutch moments.
When looking at the awards each player has won, the contrast remains clear. Jagr secured 12 NHL trophies during his career, including back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991 and 1992, alongside five Art Ross Trophies awarded to the league’s top point scorer. On the other hand, Ovechkin has accumulated 20 NHL trophies overall, highlighted by his record-breaking 9 Rocket Richard Trophies as the league’s leading goal scorer.
MacKinnon’s Personal Experiences Influence His View on the Rivalry
One possible factor in MacKinnon’s preference for Jagr might be his own success against Ovechkin and the Capitals. In 20 matchups against Ovechkin, MacKinnon has amassed 28 points, including 11 goals. By comparison, Ovechkin has recorded 10 goals and 18 points in those games. Although both players have generated 78 shots, Ovechkin edges MacKinnon in game-winning goals, with three to one.
Beyond statistics, MacKinnon seems to appreciate Jagr’s style of play more, or perhaps even his personality off the ice. Regardless of the rationale, many fans and analysts argue that Ovechkin’s dominance as a goal scorer and his impact on the game place him ahead in this long-standing debate.
The Larger Debate Between Two Hockey Greats
During the same social media segment, MacKinnon showed loyalty to his close friend and fellow Nova Scotian, Sidney Crosby, choosing him over legends like Jagr, Gordie Howe, Mario Lemieux, and Bobby Orr. However, Crosby’s reign was ultimately ended in MacKinnon’s eyes by Wayne Gretzky, whom he considers “the only guy” above the rest.
MacKinnon’s choice to rank Jagr above Ovechkin adds an intriguing layer to the discussion about the two Slavic stars. Their careers reflect contrasting types of greatness — Jagr’s exceptional endurance and playmaking versus Ovechkin’s dynamic goal scoring. This ongoing debate highlights how hockey fans continue to compare these players’ legacies with both respect and passion.