What is wrong with Crosby?

[Max Cow Disease]

Perhaps time for a straight-across Gio for Crosby deal, in a "garbage in, garbage out" sort of swap.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Max Cow Disease

Perhaps time for a straight-across Gio for Crosby deal, in a "garbage in, garbage out" sort of swap.

Pfft, why trade Gio when you could land Crosby for Raymond?

Maybe throw a steak dinner in there to even it up a bit.

[skudr248]

crosby is no good

[Harry Lime]

You could see in the game that they played here that it is a coaching thing. Sometimes you run into a coach that believes that if everyone plays the same way, up and down the roster, this grinding in the corners, slow freight train style, success will follow. That works great when you have a crappy team, and are trying to eke out wins.

When you turn Crosby, Malkin, Letang and Kessel into four Blake Comeaus, you probably shouldn't be a coach at the NHL level.

[doctajones428]

The Penguins as a whole have been terrible, even during their 6 game win streak. They looked like they were skating in molasses and they couldn't make a pass or a play if their lives depended on it. They looked awful against Vancouver and Edmonton but some how got wins they didn't deserve.

Fleury is the only thing keeping them in games right now

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

You could see in the game that they played here that it is a coaching thing. Sometimes you run into a coach that believes that if everyone plays the same way, up and down the roster, this grinding in the corners, slow freight train style, success will follow. That works great when you have a crappy team, and are trying to eke out wins.

When you turn Crosby, Malkin, Letang and Kessel into four Blake Comeaus, you probably shouldn't be a coach at the NHL level.

I agree with this. It is crazy to have a guy like Crosby on the ice and not have him carrying the puck with speed through the neutral zone. I've watched a bunch of penguins games this season and it seems like it's always someone else carrying it through the neutral zone and most of the time the other guy just dumps it in and chases it. It's also why Crosby and Kessel don't fit well as line mates... They both thrive by carrying the puck up the ice with speed. They can't both have the puck.

I get frustrated with flames as well when the breakout doesn't focus on getting the puck to the right guy at the right time... Especially on the powerplay. The right guys are usually gaudreau, Bennett, Brodie, and sometimes Monahan... And the right time is usually before leaving the defensive zone. If Johnny is given the puck and accelerating through the neutral zone... 9 times out of 10 he establishes possession and even scoring chances in the offensive zone.

It's the same with Crosby. I'm sorry but if Sid Crosby is on the ice... Pascal Dupuis should not be the guy letang is looking to pass the puck to on the breakout.


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[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

You could see in the game that they played here that it is a coaching thing. Sometimes you run into a coach that believes that if everyone plays the same way, up and down the roster, this grinding in the corners, slow freight train style, success will follow. That works great when you have a crappy team, and are trying to eke out wins.

When you turn Crosby, Malkin, Letang and Kessel into four Blake Comeaus, you probably shouldn't be a coach at the NHL level.

It's called the Pierre Page effect. They definitely play a much tighter system under Johnston but you can't tell me that a talent like Crosby can be muzzled by a defensive system. The Penguins probably could use a different coach but I wouldn't look too deep into this as it's more to do with a slow start and down year than a regression in his career.

[Poe969]

How long until one of Crosby and/or Malkin ask for a trade?

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by JJ1532

I blame Kessel.

There is no more Kessel. Its just Landphil now.

[Jordan!]

How is Mike Johnston even the coach of the Pens? Such a weird hire.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Bouw N Arrow

How is Mike Johnston even the coach of the Pens? Such a weird hire.

Almost as weird as Rutherford.

Talk about wasting precious years off of Crosby and Malkin's careers.

[Tinordi]

If you put out Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, Hornqvist and Letang on the power play and you don't have the best PP in the league then someone is doing something very wrong.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

I don't think Crosby has been the same player since coming back from his major concussion. He's more of a perimeter player now. Spends too much time trying to setup his teammates. Guy used to be able to take the puck from end-to-end and score highlight reel goals or absolutely undress players and pass to a teammate for an easy goal.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Realtor 1

Not on the same level but I am sure many around the league are wondering the same about Gio
A shoe in Norris winner before injury is looking like a 5-6 d man.

As someone who messed up my arm and ankle (soft tissue, nothing broken) in an accident this February, I know that as of right now, everything is still not 100% and they hurt if moved in certain ways or with certain loads and hurt more in the mornings and with temperature changes.

Injuries don't always heal back to where you are pain free or have the same movement, flexibility, strength, or durability as before.

I suspect Gio's arm is not what it used to be. Hopefully it will get better.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

I don't think Crosby has been the same player since coming back from his major concussion. He's more of a perimeter player now. Spends too much time trying to setup his teammates. Guy used to be able to take the puck from end-to-end and score highlight reel goals or absolutely undress players and pass to a teammate for an easy goal.

Donno about that. Had a 104 point season after his concussion problems.

Crosby is 28. Hardly on the downcurve of his career. I think generally speaking a guys prime years have shifted down by a year and a guy's prime start at the age of 24 whereas I used to think it started at 26 a few years ago. Crosby is still in his prime, and a special talent like that will likely be a top notch player until age 32.


To me this is just an extended slump, although he does have 10 points so no need to panic. It's the pens that are experiencing problems as a group.

[Azhouse]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

To be fair, all you need is for him to be good at the end of the season.

Which hasn't happened for 6-7 years now.

[dustygoon]

Tough for Burkle to sell a team with star struggling, no prospects, and a heavy payroll. Something not right with penguins.

[Poe969]

Crosby is garbage, he's slowing down and his production is going down the toilet. The smart thing for the pens to do right now is to trade him for a package of Wideman, Raymond, Backlund and some other scrap pieces.

[IgiTang]

Crosby to Toronto - E5?

That would actually be a great spot for him right now. Being relevant again on Canadian TV instead of McDavid. Also playing on a Babcock coached team. Toronto has the assets to acquire too.

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Crosby is 28. Hardly on the downcurve of his career. I think generally speaking a guys prime years have shifted down by a year and a guy's prime start at the age of 24 whereas I used to think it started at 26 a few years ago. Crosby is still in his prime, and a special talent like that will likely be a top notch player until age 32.

the graph below is an average of all players...for elites the peak drops off slower, but it's the same story, you're generally at your best from 24-26 and then it's downhill from there. interestingly, Vollman has claimed that this curve is the same for goaltenders, but the problem is that goalies aren't played nearly as early as forwards are, so you don't actually know when you have a good goalie until he's technically past his prime.