News Article: Welcome back, Mr. Crosby

[Harv]

Awesome article from LeBrun.

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/9036140/pittsburgh-penguins-sidney-crosby-back-best-player-world

Almost some guy named Gretzky had this to say..

But in my mind, I don't think there's any question Sidney Crosby is the best all-around player in the game. His hockey sense is so strong and so solid, combined with his God-gifted talent of being able to see the ice, see the entire picture in front of him.

 

[Sidney BrOSSby*]

He might not have the records at the end of his career, but he's the generational talent.

 

[AK]

We won't see anyone like Sid for another generation.

I mean, I've taken him for the best player in the world for four or five years now, but he's moved to a new echelon. He's the best player in hockey by such a wide margin that the debate doesn't even seem worthwhile. He amazes me more now than when he was posting 100 points as an 18-year-old kid.

He's perfect in every aspect of the sport, in a way no one has been perfect since 99 and 66. Every area he's had problems in before is now essentially elite. He's playing a video game on beginner.


And the fact that he's put a stretch like this together after missing two years with a career-threatening brain injury? Sheesh.

 

[lokomotiv15]

The guy does work on the boards against NHLers I could only dream of doing against young children. Phenomenal hockey play, beautiful stride and unreal quickness on his release.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Sid is currently playing at a level that is above and beyond the rest of the league.

Hell, even his point totals are slowly getting to the point there's a gap between him and the league. Stamkos is the only one that's close to him, and Stamkos got off to a much better start, with 14 points in his first 7 games. Compare that to Sid, who looked off for about the first 7 or so games, who only had 7 points during that time. Since then, he's got 33 points in 18 games.

And it's not even just the offense. He's looking like the kind of player that can control the tempo of the game in all three zones.

 

[shureshot66]

Awesome article from LeBrun.

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/9036140/pittsburgh-penguins-sidney-crosby-back-best-player-world

Almost some guy named Gretzky had this to say..

When I saw online that LeBrun was at the game tonight, I was hopeful that he was there to do a feature on Sid. He did not disappoint. The extended thoughts from Gretzky were great.

For as horrible as ESPN the TV network is at covering hockey -- I was at a bar tonight and the live Sportscenter spent more time on highlights from a Florida Gulf Coast hoops game than the entire NHL -- the website is decent because it has real reporters like LeBrun.

Thanks for sharing the link so more people might get to read it.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

Crosby is pretty much this scene:



He looked at a piano, and it just made sense to him. He could just play.

- So what are you saying? You play the piano?

- Not a lick. I look at a piano, I see a bunch of keys, three pedals and a box of wood.

But Beethoven, Mozart-- They saw it. They could just play.

I couldn't paint you a picture. I probably can't hit the ball out of Fenway. And I can't play the piano.

- But you can do my O-chem paper in under an hour.

Right. Well, I mean, when it came to stuff like that, I could always just play.

That's the best I can explain it.

Crosby, when you watch him play, the entire game just slows down for him. He does things that honestly a person should not be able to do. Like that game in Philly where he dropped his stick and played the puck with the butt end of his stick. And he does those things not now and then but game after game. We may have seen the most talented player ever in Mario. Then how luck were we to see one with gifts almost as great so soon after. We are such a lucky fan base.

 

[Royal Canuck]

We are such a lucky fan base.

You can say that again.

Although we got these guys;

There is nothing like Crosby. His vision, his agility, speed, puck control, hands, release, everything.

There is not one part of Crosby's game missing, he's the ultimate game-changer.

Not a day goes by that I wish I could see Sid the Kid in Blue and Green.

 

[DoktorZaius]

Crosby is pretty much this scene:

Haha, that's so perfect. Whenever I've watched Crosby play of late (and in the half-season pre-concussion), I'm just in awe. And it's almost every shift. AND even when he doesn't do something jaw dropping, he's consistently making clever and/or high percentage plays at a speed that defenses can rarely keep up with.

 

[Whakahere]

He is back for sure. At the start of the season I thought he was just a good star who looked like he needed some wingers to lead the league in scoring. Now, hot damn he the crosby again. top dog and screw it he will make anyone good.

 

[BigBadBoris]

It's just ridiculous how well he plays in every aspect of the game right now. He's everywhere on the ice and almost literally creates a few scoring chances every shift. He may have 40 points right now, but with the amount of chances he creates, he should probably be at 50-60 right now

 

[Liquid Gel]

The feeling in a game when Crosby is playing, even when we are losing is that we always have a chance. It was same feeling you felt with Mario. We could be down a goal or even 2 in the third period, but the advantage was to the Pens because we had Mario on our team. It is the same with Crosby....you know he is going to make something happen. You just expect it. Her is another comparable.

The Steelers of 2 years ago to 7-8 years ago. You just waited for Polamalu or Harrison to make a big defensive play. It happened almost every game. You knew it was going to happen. It was just when.

 

[Anderson9]

Friends, I may be monstrously OT, but is he healthy after that collision at the end boards at Toronto? Wouldn't want this to be a jinx thread.

 

[radapex]

Friends, I may be monstrously OT, but is he healthy after that collision at the end boards at Toronto? Wouldn't want this to be a jinx thread.

Yes. I believe he was even joking about it after. He may be a bit sore but sounds like he's no worse for wear.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Friends, I may be monstrously OT, but is he healthy after that collision at the end boards at Toronto? Wouldn't want this to be a jinx thread.

Did you see how the game ended?

 

[Darth Vitale]

Good article.

The only name that doesn't belong and which shows the typical Canadian bias is "Ovechkin and Malkin". It's "those good Russian players too", to make it in for the quote ... except that Ovechkin isn't even on the same planet as Malkin in terms of his skillset, vision on the ice, or versatility. "Zetterberg and Datsyuk" are "solid". OK Wayne.

Crosby and Malkin are well past any of those guys, and Crosby is past Malkin overall (mostly in terms of consistency). If they were ranked it should look like this.

1. Crosby
2. Malkin
3. Datsyuk
4. The Giftedness Gap
5. Stamkos
6+ everyone else he named

In terms of vision and creativity and the ability to do whatever they want with the puck in traffic / around the net, there's no comparison to the top 3 IMO.

Stamkos is what Ovechkin would've looked like if he was a better skater and well-rounded player; Stamkos is the ultimate sniper. Then when you get into the Getzlaf's and Perry's of the world you're just talking about the typical all-star caliber player but guys who are not going to go down in history as great players. Stamkos might make it into that group if he continues to round his game... the rest won't.

 

[Fordy]

Can we get him a 4 point game? I was sure he'd get it last night.

 

[AK]

We are such a lucky fan base.

I used to get defensive when people said that, and I have no idea why.

Agreed. After Lemieux, there was no way anyone could think we'd ever see this level of play again. Thought the same thing after Jagr and, of course, felt the same way after Kelly Buchberger.

To get it again is pretty stunning.

 

[66-30-33]

But...what about that thread saying Stamkos and Tavares are now ahead of Crosby?

 

[bambamcam4ever]

Good article.

The only name that doesn't belong and which shows the typical Canadian bias is "Ovechkin and Malkin". It's "those good Russian players too", to make it in for the quote ... except that Ovechkin isn't even on the same planet as Malkin in terms of his skillset, vision on the ice, or versatility. "Zetterberg and Datsyuk" are "solid". OK Wayne.

Crosby and Malkin are well past any of those guys, and Crosby is past Malkin overall (mostly in terms of consistency). If they were ranked it should look like this.

1. Crosby
2. Malkin
3. Datsyuk
4. The Giftedness Gap
5. Stamkos
6+ everyone else he named

In terms of vision and creativity and the ability to do whatever they want with the puck in traffic / around the net, there's no comparison to the top 3 IMO.

Stamkos is what Ovechkin would've looked like if he was a better skater and well-rounded player; Stamkos is the ultimate sniper. Then when you get into the Getzlaf's and Perry's of the world you're just talking about the typical all-star caliber player but guys who are not going to go down in history as great players. Stamkos might make it into that group if he continues to round his game... the rest won't.

Ovechkin has always been a much better skater than Stamkos.

 

[sf expat71]

Ovechkin has always been a much better skater than Stamkos.

Ovechkin may be a little shiftier, but Stamkos is definitely a better skater. He's faster, but maybe he doesn't look it, because his stride is fluid and has little wasted movement.

 

[Liquid Gel]

Can we get him a 4 point game? I was sure he'd get it last night.

Geez! Would you settle for a 5 point game?

 

[SID87BORG]

Can we get him a 4 point game? I was sure he'd get it last night.

You asketh and Crosby giveth, with one on the house.

 

[AccuracyFive]

You asketh and Crosby giveth, with one on the house.

 

[Fordy]

Let's just say I have some connections.