How good is Sidney Crosby?

[Northendzone]

I have to admit that I was a little surprised when Crosby won the conn smythe; as I did not think he was dominant; however, that being said, when I think of him I think of points being scored.

I suppose that paly on the empty net summarizes why he won the CS as he did something you might not expect him to do to help his team win.

[Igottago]

No issues with Crosby winning the Conn Smythe. Look no further than the shift after San Jose's goal. Pittsburgh completely took over the next shift, largely due to Crosby. Resulted in the winning goal. No Crosby didn't score it, but he basically took the team on his back on that shift. He's been doing stuff like that throughout the playoffs.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by wittynickname

Did you actually watch the Penguins in the playoffs this season? That is bar none the biggest change. Crosby was the consummate professional in these playoffs. He skated away from slashes and crosschecks and Joe Thornton ripping his helmet off, without even a single glance in Thornton's direction. Even last night, there was a shift when Thornton was just going in on Crosby, crosscheck after crosscheck, and not a single reaction out of Crosby.
.

I will admit that other than last night's game I did not watch a single playoff game this year - Penguins or otherwise. If Crosby changed his game and played this way then I'll commend him for that, hopefully it is a permanent change in his game. I was speaking of my perception of his play in the past.

[Stay Golden]

Crosby was the best choice for the Conn Smythe. The Leader of his team by example all through the playoffs. Was vocal on the bench and the ice to his team mates. A much deserved SC win.

[AcGold]

I think he deserves it. May not have scored a ton of goals but that's because he was keyed in on every shift and the defenders rarely let him take a clean shot.

That is why he deserves the MVP. Even though he was a target every shift he never slowed down, showed hesitation or gave any sign of quitting. He was in every scrum and board battle giving it 100% everytime. That's all you can ask.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by wittynickname

Without an insanely dominant effort from a single player, with a team win like this, it makes sense that the MVP goes to the biggest name. Again, there is absolutely a case to be made for Murray, Kessel or Letang, but Crosby winning it is certainly not a poor choice.

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

You had me until that last sentence. Pretty clear that there wasn't any one obvious choice, but to conclude that it was basically given to Crosby because of his name, is a stretch. Unheralded goalies can win it, and sometime do, even in a losing cause. I would have no problem with Murray winning, I just think Crosby edges him out.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

A difference of opinion, to be sure.

Frankly, I am glad it didn't go to Kessel. Not that I hate the guy or he didn't play well, but that would have been the easy way out. Give it to the leading scorer. My vote would have gone to Crosby, and clearly I am all-knowing and un-biased.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Maybe you forgot the 2007 playoffs but Paulsson was a beast for the Ducks.

I remember them well, and yes, Pahlsson was terrific. But he did not do all of the things that Crosby did through these playoffs, because there are not many players who are able to play at his level.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

He was a total non-factor in too many games for me to jump on the wagon. I don't go against the grain I simply don't get emotional about players.

As I said in an earlier post, he was far and away the most important player of the last two rounds for the Penguins, and they do not win without him. One of the reasons so many other players from the Penguins played as well and as consistently as they did had a lot to do with Crosby's own effort and commitment level, and to the attention that he occupied from opposing players. On another team I am not convinced that the Hagelin · Bonino · Kessel is even as remotely effective.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

As I said in an earlier post, he was far and away the most important player of the last two rounds for the Penguins, and they do not win without him. One of the reasons so many other players from the Penguins played as well and as consistently as they did had a lot to do with Crosby's own effort and commitment level, and to the attention that he occupied from opposing players. On another team I am not convinced that the Hagelin · Bonino · Kessel is even as remotely effective.

You used to get on me for stating my opinion as fact. I get that you're a big fan of the player but it's clearly clouding your judgement. I'm not downplaying his effectiveness but he simply wasn't head and shoulders above some of the other candidates. Renaud Lavio (a voter BTW) said today on 960 it was up in the air between Crosby, Letang, Kessel, and Murray so let's not make it sound like Crosby was the only choice.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

You used to get on me for stating my opinion as fact. I get that you're a big fan of the player but it's clearly clouding your judgement. I'm not downplaying his effectiveness but he simply wasn't head and shoulders above some of the other candidates. Renaud Lavio (a voter BTW) said today on 960 it was up in the air between Crosby, Letang, Kessel, and Murray so let's not make it sound like Crosby was the only choice.

I'm actually not a big fan of Crosby, but I was extremely impressed by how well he played the past month or so. I don't doubt there were other choices; I only wish to stress why Crosby was unexceptionally a good choice, which is quite contrary to the nonsense you posted earlier:

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

This was a reputation not performance based pick as the performance on the score sheet wasn't there.

It WAS NOT a "reputation pick" by any stretch of the imagination.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

To be clear there wasn't a performance for the ages from anyone in a Penguins uniform. I watched almost (hard to catch everything in the first round) every single game of the playoffs and IMO Couture, Burns, and Pavelski were probably the best three players in the first three rounds by a longshot but for various reasons (stage fright, Penguins, ran out of gas, etc) all really struggled in the finals.

The Pens were a huge reason the Sharks best players were not effective. Pittsburgh almost never waited in their own zone to do something it was a quick pass or chip the puck up the board or off the glass. This took away the Sharks best weapons puck possession in the offensive zone, especially Thornton he thrives on this. San Jose never adjusted either due to bad coaching or they just couldn't find a way.

As for Sid he was incredible in game 6 won so many key draws and was all over the ice.

[Hockey_Ninja]

First player to break a Gretzky record this season.....

https://twitter.com/user/status/1905401821113258407

[DeluxeMoustache]

Top 10 all time scorer, against much better coached Ds and goalies, and against much better conditioned athletes

And the only one *ever* to go point per game 20 seasons

Definitely in any serious conversation about the GOAT

[BACKCHECK!!!]

The guy just continues to piss excellence.

One of the all-time greats.

[curves2000]

The story mostly goes something along the lines of this.

Gretzky happened to be in Nova Scotia for some event, was attending some minor hockey tournament where Sid was playing randomly as a 12/13 year old. Gave some basic interview to a local reporter and mentions flat out that the talent he saw out there made him believe this kid was going to break his records. That was a bold statement like no other for a child playing hockey.

When reporters and scouts starting digging a little deeper they found a kid who practiced like no other, worked out in the gym like a pro even before the pro's were doing it and took care of the little things like nutrition.

The best know the best

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by curves2000

The story mostly goes something along the lines of this.

Gretzky happened to be in Nova Scotia for some event, was attending some minor hockey tournament where Sid was playing randomly as a 12/13 year old. Gave some basic interview to a local reporter and mentions flat out that the talent he saw out there made him believe this kid was going to break his records. That was a bold statement like no other for a child playing hockey.

When reporters and scouts starting digging a little deeper they found a kid who practiced like no other, worked out in the gym like a pro even before the pro's were doing it and took care of the little things like nutrition.

The best know the best

Probably the 01 Air Canada Cup, a AAA tourney, Crosby was 2 years younger than most of the players at just 13, his team (Dartmouth) didn't win it but he put up 24 points in 7 games, my nephew played against him that year and he says "we wanted to kill the little bastard but we couldn't catch him" of course my nephew is now his biggest fan.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Top 10 all time scorer, against much better coached Ds and goalies, and against much better conditioned athletes

And the only one *ever* to go point per game 20 seasons

Definitely in any serious conversation about the GOAT

High ankle sprain from the end boards, concussion (/turned out to be neck injury), puck to the mouth…

The guy missed a bunch of time from some rough injuries.

[White Out 403]

He'll go down as one of the best ever, and one of the top 2 or 3 players to ever be a Team Canada skater

[bdubbs]

My personal GOAT