Sports fans often make comparisons between those known as the best then and the best now, one of the most talked about tandems is that of Oilers great Wayne Gretzky and Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby. Many solutions to this debate have been contemplated, including an end-all one on one matchup between the two. But with Gretzky now 54 years old and long out of his prime, that seems highly unfair or unlikely. But when looking at the two at the age of 27, comparing their stats and accomplishments, it’s quite easy to establish Wayne Gretzky as the greatest hockey player ever.

A look at the stats of both at the prime age of 27. At this age, both The Great One and Crosby had played 9 seasons in the National Hockey League, Gretzky outplaying Sid by almost 150 games. Crosby’s one Stanley Cup and two scoring titles doesn’t even compare to Gretzky’s four and eight respectively. Bryan Bickell won more Stanley Cups in that nine years than Sid, but no one remembers him. In only one of those nine years did Crosby lead the league in helper’s. Gretzky? All nine. It isn’t even worth the time to compare the two’s Hart Trophies, Ted Lindsay Awards, Rocket Richard Trophies or All-Star appearances but lets just say, in Gretzky’s favor, it’s A LOT vs a little. Another point of interest when it comes to comparing these two is the different eras they played in. In Gretzky’s time, from 1979 to 1999, helmets had just become mandatory for every player, solid wood sticks were still used and the gear weighed almost double what it is today. Now granted, there were just as many superstars to compete with Gretzky then as there are to compare to Sidney Crosby now, but some of those guys back in the 80’s and 90’s were REAL tough guys. You had Tie Domi, who had over 3,500 penalty minutes in his career. Guys who were just straight up crazy, like Rob Ray, who took almost all his upper body pads off before a fight. Hockey Hall of Fame tough guy Eddie Shore, would be turning over in his grave if he knew David Clarkson was considered a modern NHL enforcer.

Comparing the physical/mental state of both players in their prime; At 27 they both were almost physically identical, Gretzky and Crosby both play center, shoot left handed and are considered playmakers. Sid is 5’11 200 lb. and The Gretz is just an inch taller at 6’0 flat and about 185 pounds, but its safe to assume he’s lost some muscle weight in the last 30 years or so. Fighting is a big part of the sport of hockey, and one would be considered tough if they were to get into a fight.  While neither are considered tough guys, and both don’t or didn’t fight too often,  most would describe Sidney Crosby as a “Sissy” or a “Cry-baby” and we’ll just leave it at that.

So statistics and play style hold a large role in the arguments concerning the greatest to hit an NHL rink. The Great One vs. Sid the Kid, just look at the facts, the answer should be pretty clear.