Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin reveal they text one another!

They've been fierce on-ice rivals and have battled one another in the Stanley Cup Playoffs a total of four times over the courses of their future Hall of Fame careers. 

But superstar forwards Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin have developed a healthy respect for one another that has even branched out into communicating off-ice. 

"We can talk to each other," Ovechkin said. "We can text each other if we have some questions. It's pretty cool."

Of course, the two have not only played against one another, but also spent time together at events like All-Star games. 

"It's been good to kind of get to the know the person," Crosby said. "Obviously, the competition is fierce on the ice, but, yeah, I think that part has definitely evolved."

So what does their off-ice correspondence usually consist of? Certainly not writing novels to one another, but certainly more than just one-word messages. 

"I wouldn't say anything specific," Crosby said. "But it could be a congratulatory text or just, 'What do you think about this?' or 'Did you see that?'"

With over career goals, Ovechkin is within striking distance of Wayne Gretzky's all-time record of 892 goals, and Crosby  explained that he is rooting for him to do so during the NHL Player Media Tour in September. 

"I've played against him for 17 years and seen how consistent he's been and know how difficult it is coming in with expectations and all the pressure that comes along with being a first pick, and he's surpassed those expectations and done more," Crosby explained. "So to be in the situation he's in, to have a chance at it, for as much as he's put into it over the years, I think it would be great to see him to do it."

For Ovechkin, he stated that he'd be rooting for Crosby had their situations been reversed. 

"Of course, the first couple of years it was a rivalry," Ovechkin said. "I'm Russian. He's Canadian. There was a language barrier. But right now, we are grown-up men. We both appreciate what we've done for the League."

"I think it brings out the best in us, and I think he'd probably say the same thing," Crosby said. "It brings out the best in us individually and in our teams. I think everyone gets up for those games, and that's the fun part about playing in the League and being NHL players is having that kind of competition."