Sidney Crosby
Nicklas Lidstrom
Stat by stat
Bars are scaled to the leader in this list.
The verdict
Sidney Crosby leads 2 of 3 categories. Our all-time ranking places Sidney Crosby at #5 and Nicklas Lidstrom at #9.
Head-to-head FAQ
Who leads more shared metrics?
How do the published ranks compare?
Are these live stats?
The case for Sidney Crosby
The most complete player of his generation, Sidney Crosby has carried the Pittsburgh Penguins and Canadian hockey for two decades. Drafted first overall in 2005 amid impossible hype as The Next One, he delivered: three Stanley Cups (2009, 2016, 2017), two Conn Smythe Trophies as playoff MVP, two Hart Trophies, and the 2010 Olympic gold medal, which he clinched with the Golden Goal in overtime against the United States, the most famous goal in Canadian hockey since 1972. Through the 2024-25 season he has amassed more than 1,650 points and over 600 goals, and remains a point-per-game player deep into his thirties. Crosby's genius is his two-way command and his puck protection down low, where his low centre of gravity and strength make him nearly impossible to dislodge. A relentless competitor and a model captain, he elevated the Penguins into a modern dynasty and stands as the defining North American star of the post-lockout era, bridging the game's past and present.
The case for Nicklas Lidstrom
The finest European player of all time and perhaps the most flawless defenceman the game has seen, Nicklas Lidstrom anchored the Detroit Red Wings for two decades of sustained excellence. The Perfect Human won seven Norris Trophies as the NHL's best defenceman, a total behind only Bobby Orr, and four Stanley Cups, and in 2008 became the first European-trained captain to hoist the Cup. He was awarded the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP in 2002. Lidstrom played 1,564 games across 20 seasons and never missed the playoffs, retiring at 42 still performing at an elite level. His genius was positional and cerebral rather than physical: he seemed never out of position, defended with an impeccably timed stick rather than crushing hits, and moved the puck with quiet precision. He scored 1,142 points, remarkable for a defender who prioritized responsibility, and his metronomic consistency made him the model two-way blueliner. Where Orr overwhelmed, Lidstrom perfected, redefining defensive greatness through economy and intelligence.