P.K. Subban stirred controversy during his appearance on ESPN’s First Take on Monday while discussing Alexander Ovechkin’s record-breaking goal and its place among the greatest records in professional sports. He showed no signs of backing down from his stance, claiming that LeBron James’s all-time NBA points record doesn’t instill the same fear in opponents as Ovechkin’s achievements or those of NBA legends like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
Subban emphasized that the two records are “not comparable” due to the NHL’s increased physicality compared to the NBA. While many sports fans prefer celebrating each record individually without rivalry, Subban is clearly intent on defending the toughness of NHL play. This was further highlighted during the intermission of Thursday’s matchup between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Washington Capitals on ESPN+, when Subban reiterated his views, arguing Ovechkin’s achievement holds more weight than James’s. He suggested that the only comparable record is Jerry Rice’s career touchdowns in the NFL, explaining:
“Jerry Rice’s touchdowns? That’s something that is actually a little bit more similar. I would say a wide receiver’s touchdowns would be more similar to a hockey player. Because you’ve got a guy charging at you. You’ve got to worry about defensive players taking your head off.”
He continued, clarifying how records are established in different sports: “Barry Bonds, you spoke about, doesn’t have to worry about getting hit. LeBron James doesn’t have to worry about getting hit. So it’s different. For me, this record has got to be the most difficult. It’s not the points record. The points record, to me, can be a little bit easier. You get secondary assists; it’s a little bit different of an award. When you score goals, I don’t care if you have guys passing it to you. It’s all based on you. You have to put your body in harm’s way, get into dirty areas. You can’t score 895 goals just from one spot.”
Subban praised Ovechkin’s ability to navigate physical play, noting, “He’s top three in hits all-time and is probably going to be the all-time hits leader. He’s 6’3”, 250 pounds. This guy… The size in which he was to be able to play this long and be this consistent. I mean, 40 goals this year, came back from a broken leg and scored 40.”
During intermission of tonight’s Hurricanes-Capitals game, ESPN+ reaired a part of P.K. Subban’s Alexander Ovechkin-LeBron James argument.
Subban feels the same way.
“Barry Bonds doesn’t have to worry about getting hit. LeBron James doesn’t have to worry about getting hit.” pic.twitter.com/8BuFwNb8gj
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 11, 2025
One could argue Subban makes a valid point regarding the comparability of football and hockey in terms of all-time records and the importance of longevity due to their physical nature. However, is it necessary to criticize all-time greats like Barry Bonds and LeBron James to emphasize Ovechkin’s achievement? Most fans recognize that Ovechkin’s record stands on its own and doesn’t require denigration of other sports stars to enhance its significance. While Subban’s defense of Ovechkin may resonate with hockey fans, it hasn’t endeared him to supporters of other sports over the last few days.
