LOS ANGELES -- The two players widely considered to be the league’s best will go head-to-head in the final of the 2017 NHL All-Star Game.
The Metropolitan Division, captained by Sidney Crosby, advanced to Sunday’s finale with a 10-6 win over the Atlantic -- setting the stage for this afternoon’s game against the Connor McDavid-led Pacific.
The two sides will do battle for bragging rights.
Oh, and the $1 million grand prize.
The ‘Crosby vs. McDavid’ debate has been front and center this weekend, as the NHL unveiled its list of the 100 greatest players. Crosby was part of that group, and it’s widely expected McDavid will be by the time his career is finished.
In their Friday night press conference, both Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky agreed that Crosby was currently the NHL’s top player.
Gretzky, though, suggested that McDavid was closing in on No. 87.
“He’s the best player in the game,” Gretzky said of Crosby. “He’s earned that mantle, and his work ethic is as good or better than anybody in hockey. We encourage, and I know Bobby [Orr] is very close to Connor, that that’s the guy that he’s chasing, and Connor sees him in his vision, and that’s what makes the game wonderful is that you want to be as good as the best player.
“Right now Crosby is the best player, and you have to earn your stripes.”