Sidney Crosby Master of Deflection

[93LEAFS]

Crosby seems to be the type of guy who finds a weakness (or better put something he isn't elite at) then will spend an entire off-season perfecting it, then do it with another skill the next year. A lot of this is natural skill, but it isn't at this level without an insane amount of practice. Pretty sure I heard Michael Jordan was very similar and worked to add a new aspect/perfect something each off-season, most notable examples being the post up game he added later in his career, shooting from range, the fadeaway and improved defense. Crosby seems to be motivated in a very similar way. I'm not sure we've had a superstar of this magnitude in the NHL who has put as much work in mastering all aspects of his game.

 

[Devilsfan118]

If only Crosby wasn't on the Penguins. I'd probably feel compelled to root for him. Such an unreal talent.

 

[DMR]

Amazing vid. This one and his puck protection vid are my favorites.

 

[authentic]

Crosby seems to be the type of guy who finds a weakness (or better put something he isn't elite at) then will spend an entire off-season perfecting it, then do it with another skill the next year. A lot of this is natural skill, but it isn't at this level without an insane amount of practice. Pretty sure I heard Michael Jordan was very similar and worked to add a new aspect/perfect something each off-season, most notable examples being the post up game he added later in his career, shooting from range, the fadeaway and improved defense. Crosby seems to be motivated in a very similar way. I'm not sure we've had a superstar of this magnitude in the NHL who has put as much work in mastering all aspects of his game.

The best at anything work extremely hard for it, you're not born knowing how to do stuff like that. Natural talent is impossible to tell, all we know is Crosby is the most skilled hockey player ever.

 

[ZeroPucksGiven]

Crosby seems to be the type of guy who finds a weakness (or better put something he isn't elite at) then will spend an entire off-season perfecting it, then do it with another skill the next year. A lot of this is natural skill, but it isn't at this level without an insane amount of practice. Pretty sure I heard Michael Jordan was very similar and worked to add a new aspect/perfect something each off-season, most notable examples being the post up game he added later in his career, shooting from range, the fadeaway and improved defense. Crosby seems to be motivated in a very similar way. I'm not sure we've had a superstar of this magnitude in the NHL who has put as much work in mastering all aspects of his game.

Yea his workouts don't get much play but he's obsessed with becoming better and winning.
I remember the interview he did in 2009 after his first Cup win. They asked "what did you do different this offseason?". He basically said he printed a picture of the Red Wings' celebrating the Cup the year prior and he stared at it whenever he didn't feel like working out any harder.

 

[useless]

Not sure why anyone would have had him #1 in the first place. All of these videos focusing on different individual skills of his, all of which I would argue are the best today and possibly ever (how many is there now, 5?) basically prove he has the best all around skillset to date in the NHL, it's not really arguable either since it's hard to debate video evidence.

Not everyone watches Crosby play day to day so they don't see this stuff. In fact there are 3 or 4 plays that didn't result in goals so they didn't make the cut that I would put in there.

I remember a game where Sid was up by the redline and someone threw a line drive at him, he caught the puck out of mid air with his stick and put it down to his feet.

 

[useless]

Crosby seems to be the type of guy who finds a weakness (or better put something he isn't elite at) then will spend an entire off-season perfecting it, then do it with another skill the next year. A lot of this is natural skill, but it isn't at this level without an insane amount of practice. Pretty sure I heard Michael Jordan was very similar and worked to add a new aspect/perfect something each off-season, most notable examples being the post up game he added later in his career, shooting from range, the fadeaway and improved defense. Crosby seems to be motivated in a very similar way. I'm not sure we've had a superstar of this magnitude in the NHL who has put as much work in mastering all aspects of his game.

This is why I'm excited to see what McDavid can do in the league, he's entering the league at a similar skill level that Crosby did. Now we get to see if that kid can put in the work. Sid had Lemieux to mentor him and guide him and McDavid has Sid, it's going to take a lot of hard work for Connor.

 

[Burke the Legend]

Crosby is top tier but a lot of NHL players with this kind of excellent hand-eye could be really good baseball players. So many of them are scratch golfers too.

 

[Ogrezilla]

this whole video series is tremendous.

 

[Mattb124]

Not sure why anyone would have had him #1 in the first place. All of these videos focusing on different individual skills of his, all of which I would argue are the best today and possibly ever (how many is there now, 5?) basically prove he has the best all around skillset to date in the NHL, it's not really arguable either since it's hard to debate video evidence.

When you combine time zone differences, employment, and game availability on local media, it's hard for me to watch teams from the east. Crosby hadn't done any of that sort of thing in the games I've watched him play in recent seasons (and frankly Crosby hadn't done much of anything elite in the games I have watched in recent years).

On the other hand, I've watched almost every minute of Pavelski over the past few years and his tipping skills are amazing and far and away better than other top tier players I have watched a lot of.

 

[Internet Explorer]

king henrick must absolutely hate playing against crosby

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Yea his workouts don't get much play but he's obsessed with becoming better and winning.
I remember the interview he did in 2009 after his first Cup win. They asked "what did you do different this offseason?". He basically said he printed a picture of the Red Wings' celebrating the Cup the year prior and he stared at it whenever he didn't feel like working out any harder.

Never heard that. That's some Rocky IV ****.

Love it.

 

[Straight Fire]

Seriously.

Vanek, Pavelski and Gallagher are guys that immediately came to mind for me, and Sid probably has more than all three combined.

Agreed. I think Sid actually deserves more attention than he gets.

 

[Straight Fire]

Brilliant Work Laflamm3!

Sid is ridiculous.

For anyone who's missed any of laflamm3's Crosby videos, here some others:

Phenomenal videos.

My only complaint is that Sid's one-handed backhand goal didn't make the backhand video - I think because it happened in March, after the highlight video was made.

 

[Alwalys]

what this video really shows is how good crosby is at sneaking open. there are a lot of guys that probably can make a lot of those deflections but are rarely that open right there for it.

IMO watching crosby that's his most uncanny skill. how many times he gets a chance or scores and you're like ... how the **** did he get so open?!

most of these tips he has a lot of time to prepare, a lot of space to maneuver his stick just how he needs to, and a good angle to beat the goalie. Other players like Pavelski are tipping to beat an in-position goalie.

 

[Steve]

That between the legs and behind the back goal vs the Flyers was unreal