This is kind of silly in the first place because they don't even play the same position. Say what you will about Ovechkin... but he's one of those players that when he steps up can single handedly take the team into the playoffs. You also can't blame a +/- solely on him either, as the Washington D has been pretty hit or miss. (Much like ours was this year) I always thought +/- was kind of a silly stat anyway because of all the factors involved.
Spezza had 23 goals and a -26, and missed 8 games. OV wins
You've changed your mind since we recorded s2e25?
(said by Pan when discussing Spezza for Ovechkin) "No. He doesn't have team play. He killed Dale Hunter and he's killing Adam Oates. With EK and OV, Ottawa would score 400 and let in 500. OV needs to be insulated. Send him to Pittsburgh."
Yeah, guess I should have specified - he was great to start the year, leading up to the Olympics. Because he had motivation to play well. Once they lost and that was gone... so was he.
A couple of years ago, it might have been tougher for me to choose between Spezz and Ovie, but now - Ovie was good again last year, but he's too unstable, too spoiled, and too unpredictable.
A player who decides his own ice time and plays his own system?
A young underachiever who's a constant thread to bolt to the KHL?
A veteran who's been hammered on for his entire career for not being clutch?
A veteran who's been the focal point of criticism every time the team loses a game?
