Penguins GM Jim Rutherford: Sidney Crosby still best player in world

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford says he believes captain Sidney Crosby is still the best hockey player in the world.

Rutherford told NHL.com that he believes the body of work Crosby has established over 13 NHL seasons is reason enough to give him the edge over Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid.

"There's a lot of different ways in judging this; McDavid is just a great player and at a very young age," Rutherford said. "The thing that Sid has now is three Stanley Cup championships, some Olympic gold medals and a few Canada Cup titles.

"Sid's resume and legacy is already established, but what McDavid is doing now is at the front end of his legacy that's he's starting to establish. I would expect McDavid and the Oilers to win championships in the near future, and I think that's more when we get to making the comparison."

McDavid recently led the Oilers back into the playoffs for the first time since 2006 and will become the NHL's highest-paid player with an eight-year, $100 million contract extension that begins next season. His $12.5 million average annual value would be the highest in the NHL.

What's your take on the McDavid/ Crosby debate?