daver
Registered User
This is not meant to regurgitate the pacing of his partial seasons, that has been done to death, but rather a look at his potential level of play, and how much potential, if any, was not met after his battle with injuries, most notably in 2011.
- Crosby was an absolute phenom as a teenager and had the best pre-draft CHL career ever. He was reasonably hyped as the best offensive prospect since Mario.
- He had the highest scoring finish as an 18 year old in NHL history (6th) and is only behind Wayne if that is changed to 18/19 year old seasons (i.e. rookie season starting at age 18).
- He was the only teenager in North American sports history to win a scoring title.
- He probably is also the youngest player to ever lead the NHL playoffs in scoring
- He is also the youngest to ever be a captain on a Stanley Cup winner
- He becomes one of the youngest players ever to have an Art Ross win and a Rocket win on his resume
At age 23, the traditional start of a player's peak, he is playing at a level for the first half of the 10/11 season that many consider the highest level of a play since Mario. He is dominating the league not just in points but also in goals, was playing excellent 2-way hockey, and carrying the offensive load for a Pens team that was still lacking in forward depth including an underperforming Malkin.
While he did play at the same overall offensive level in 2013, his goalscoring declined. It was thought that he reasonably became more of a perimeter player after the 2011 injuries. He surprisingly returns to elite goalscoring form for one season at age 29 (even after getting another concussion) and is compiling one the great elite longevity resumes of all-time as he went from prime to post-prime.
After his injuries, he gets credit for his offensive versatility and adaptability and for playing at a level and adding career value that was still is only bettered by a handful of players all-time.
So how good could he have been?
- Crosby was an absolute phenom as a teenager and had the best pre-draft CHL career ever. He was reasonably hyped as the best offensive prospect since Mario.
- He had the highest scoring finish as an 18 year old in NHL history (6th) and is only behind Wayne if that is changed to 18/19 year old seasons (i.e. rookie season starting at age 18).
- He was the only teenager in North American sports history to win a scoring title.
- He probably is also the youngest player to ever lead the NHL playoffs in scoring
- He is also the youngest to ever be a captain on a Stanley Cup winner
- He becomes one of the youngest players ever to have an Art Ross win and a Rocket win on his resume
At age 23, the traditional start of a player's peak, he is playing at a level for the first half of the 10/11 season that many consider the highest level of a play since Mario. He is dominating the league not just in points but also in goals, was playing excellent 2-way hockey, and carrying the offensive load for a Pens team that was still lacking in forward depth including an underperforming Malkin.
While he did play at the same overall offensive level in 2013, his goalscoring declined. It was thought that he reasonably became more of a perimeter player after the 2011 injuries. He surprisingly returns to elite goalscoring form for one season at age 29 (even after getting another concussion) and is compiling one the great elite longevity resumes of all-time as he went from prime to post-prime.
After his injuries, he gets credit for his offensive versatility and adaptability and for playing at a level and adding career value that was still is only bettered by a handful of players all-time.
So how good could he have been?