Crosbyfan said:
This is the only question where he is at least on par with the rest of the team. His defence is solid. NHL solid. Is it Team Canada solid?
That is the only legitimate question IMO. Obviously he is not ready for Draper's role. How many on the team are? (3 or 4?)
He can handle pressure better than most on the team. The only question is can he play defensively at a level required as a top 6 forward?
His defense is solid? NHL Solid? what games have you watched? He plays a good offensive role, but backchecking, covering his man, playing physical in his own zone, and just playing the pass is still in question. Not to mention his ability in reading and reacting against players with many years of more experience. If anything, yes, a good offense makes up for defensive work, but no one with any resemblence of an objective viewpoint would say right now he is a solid defensive forward in the NHL. I'm sorry, he isn't. Period. Give him a few years, sure, but right now, no. To suggest he could be decent in a defensive role on Team Canada is laughable.
I also don't feel he is any better at handling pressure. He doesn't have the international experience a lot of the players on that team already have. Sure he has played in Junior Tournaments, and had a lot of pressure on him throughout his young career, but his Olympic Experience and in Major tournies with this caliber of opponent is slim at best.
Additionally, the argument isn't whether or not he plays good enough defense in a top 6 position, it is whether or not he plays well enough to earn a spot on the 3rd or 4th line. I say that because he hasn't done enough offensively to warrant a spot on those top two lines. Other players have earned those spots above him, maybe not because of long range potential, but because of ability currently. Everyone who has ever seen Crosby knows he has enough defense to play on a top line role, because lets face it, a lot of snipers and playmakers in the league barely enter their zone. The question is, realizing he isn't good enough right now to make it as a top 6 player, does he add enough to make it on the 3rd or 4th line? The simple answer is no. NO. NO, and once again no.
The question isn't how good he is in a top 6 role, is does he deserve to be on the team in some capacity?