Crosby

[milbs06 0]

is he the real deal or what? he got 1 assist in his first pre season game. What do u guys think out there about him, the Pens and what about my team the leafs chances?

[jeffw 1]

On pace for an 82 point season......

[RadioGaGa 162]

is he the real deal or what? he got 1 assist in his first pre season game. What do u guys think out there about him, the Pens and what about my team the leafs chances?

Did you see the 2 clean breaks he had? And the one handed back hand shot, with a BIG defenceman draped all over him. He made a great pass from behind the net that just missed the guy in the slot, and almost scored on the break that Recchi ended up tapping in.

I think he's for real. Fast...great shot...incredibly strong. Amazsing vision of the ice.

[Dangles 0]

I think he's gonna be the next Daigle.

[Borsch 0]

So, just to make it clear, did he beat Mario's records at junior level?

[Chadd 916]

So, just to make it clear, did he beat Mario's records at junior level?

If I recall, Mario averaged 4 points per game in junior. Crosby averaged 2.5 points per game in the regular season.

[flashgordon 0]

So, just to make it clear, did he beat Mario's records at junior level?

If I recall, Mario averaged 4 points per game in junior. Crosby averaged 2.5 points per game in the regular season.

Chadd's in the right ballpark...

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=3105

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=73288

Look at Mario's production in the playoffs in the Q in 83-84. He was unstopable.

[jjtt99 0]

Here's an interesting read:

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Bruins' all-star Joe Thornton high on Crosby

PITTSBURGH (CP) - Boston Bruins star centre Joe Thornton is high on Pittsburgh Penguins rookie Sidney Crosby.

"He's going to be a star," Thornton, who watched from a luxury box Wednesday night as Crosby took on his Bruins, told the (Pittsburgh) Tribune-Review. "Looking from upstairs, he knows how to find the right spot and use his speed to his benefit. He's going to be an all-star for a long time."

Thornton compared Crosby to the Russian Rocket.

"Me and Glen (Murray) were talking, and he kind of looks like a Pavel Bure, how he gets to the open ice so fast," Thornton said. "Obviously, defencemen are going to have to take a lot of penalties on him just to contain his speed. But he reminds me, just the way he skates and how he finds the hole, he's a little bit Bure-ish."

___________________________________

Many fans of the game thought Pavel "The Russian Rocket" Bure had high top-end speed. Not so much really. Pavel had incredible acceleration so with the first three steps he'd leave opponents behind.

I didn't know Crosby had similar attributes.

[A_Steeves12 0]

I think he's gonna be the next Daigle.

i second that. he's just too much of a whiner, i cant wait to see him get smoked.

[cds 0]

I think he's gonna be the next Daigle.

i second that. he's just too much of a whiner, i cant wait to see him get smoked.

When have you ever heard the kid whine?

[rausch27 1]

i dont agree with that, the only time ive heard him whine was when he couldnt do upperbody at the NHL combine but that was because he was sick and he just finished with the Rominouski season

even though i think ovechkin will become a better all around player

[hockechamp14 0]

Many fans of the game thought Pavel "The Russian Rocket" Bure had high top-end speed. Not so much really. Pavel had incredible acceleration so with the first three steps he'd leave opponents behind.

I didn't know Crosby had similar attributes.

If you don't think pavel had top end speed, you're on crack. He could accelerate fast, but people would have been able to catch him if he wasn't fast....

[$-Money9 0]

I think he's gonna be the next Daigle.

i second that. he's just too much of a whiner, i cant wait to see him get smoked.

When has crosby ever been a whiner? He has never been to cocky but yet not underconfident. Please tell one time he has ever complained. I'd like to see how'd you would react being on national television at 16. He has never complained once that there is to much pressure on him. On the otherhand Ovechin is a huge whiner I just cant see him being that good. At the world juniors when Russia was loseing to Canada he completely gave up it was like the energy was sucked out of him. I believe he blamed it on an arm injury or something.

[McCabe24 0]

We got on his case pretty bad at the Memorial Cup in London and he ended up flipping the bird to a guy a few seats away from me. You could tell he was really frustrated from being beat up all tournament, we pretty much sent him over the top.

As for Ovechkin he got his shoulder messed up bad by a Bergeron hit, was out for a few months after so it was a legit injury and not just a cheap way out on his part.

[ktang 34]

Many fans of the game thought Pavel "The Russian Rocket" Bure had high top-end speed.  Not so much really.  Pavel had incredible acceleration so with the first three steps he'd leave opponents behind.

I didn't know Crosby had similar attributes.

If you don't think pavel had top end speed, you're on crack. He could accelerate fast, but people would have been able to catch him if he wasn't fast....

I'm in the group that thinks Pavel Bure had great acceleration, but did not have the best (for NHLers) top-end speed. I think Paul Kariya is similar, and that's why you'll sometimes see Kariya get caught from behind.

I'll quote from Peter Twist's "Complete Conditioning for Ice Hockey"'s intro to Chapter 5:

"Although Pavel Bure obviously has good speed, he is not the fastest hockey player I've ever coached. I've coached college athletes who are faster. I can say this with confidence, pointing to the definitions of speed and quickness...His quickness is so great that he can be at his top speed in just two or three strides. Other players may be faster, but they take the whole length of the ice before they reach their top speed. In a controlled test, others may win a race of one complete lap of the ice, but if they take a half-lap to reach top speed, this is of little value in a game. Pavel wins races for loose pucks not because of his speed but because of his incredible quickness - that first-step explosiveness. He does not have the best top-end speed, but he reaches his top speed first, in a couple of strides, so he is at his top speed longer than his opponents. Pavel is at his top speed while others are still just initiating movement."

[Miike 1]

I think he's gonna be the next Daigle.

i second that. he's just too much of a whiner, i cant wait to see him get smoked.

When has crosby ever been a whiner? He has never been to cocky but yet not underconfident. Please tell one time he has ever complained. I'd like to see how'd you would react being on national television at 16. He has never complained once that there is to much pressure on him. On the otherhand Ovechin is a huge whiner I just cant see him being that good. At the world juniors when Russia was loseing to Canada he completely gave up it was like the energy was sucked out of him. I believe he blamed it on an arm injury or something.

I think he means, breaking his stick over his knee which he did a few times because he got pissed off, from all the clutching and grabbing.

[A_Steeves12 0]

I think he's gonna be the next Daigle.

i second that. he's just too much of a whiner, i cant wait to see him get smoked.

When has crosby ever been a whiner? He has never been to cocky but yet not underconfident. Please tell one time he has ever complained. I'd like to see how'd you would react being on national television at 16. He has never complained once that there is to much pressure on him. On the otherhand Ovechin is a huge whiner I just cant see him being that good. At the world juniors when Russia was loseing to Canada he completely gave up it was like the energy was sucked out of him. I believe he blamed it on an arm injury or something.

I think he means, breaking his stick over his knee which he did a few times because he got pissed off, from all the clutching and grabbing.

yeah breaking his stick over his knee slamming his stick on the ice etc.. hes done this quite a bit, its not going to get any better i think we will see more of this from him.

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

Many fans of the game thought Pavel "The Russian Rocket" Bure had high top-end speed.  Not so much really.  Pavel had incredible acceleration so with the first three steps he'd leave opponents behind.

I didn't know Crosby had similar attributes.

If you don't think pavel had top end speed, you're on crack. He could accelerate fast, but people would have been able to catch him if he wasn't fast....

I'm in the group that thinks Pavel Bure had great acceleration, but did not have the best (for NHLers) top-end speed. I think Paul Kariya is similar, and that's why you'll sometimes see Kariya get caught from behind.

I'll quote from Peter Twist's "Complete Conditioning for Ice Hockey"'s intro to Chapter 5:

"Although Pavel Bure obviously has good speed, he is not the fastest hockey player I've ever coached. I've coached college athletes who are faster. I can say this with confidence, pointing to the definitions of speed and quickness...His quickness is so great that he can be at his top speed in just two or three strides. Other players may be faster, but they take the whole length of the ice before they reach their top speed. In a controlled test, others may win a race of one complete lap of the ice, but if they take a half-lap to reach top speed, this is of little value in a game. Pavel wins races for loose pucks not because of his speed but because of his incredible quickness - that first-step explosiveness. He does not have the best top-end speed, but he reaches his top speed first, in a couple of strides, so he is at his top speed longer than his opponents. Pavel is at his top speed while others are still just initiating movement."

I was going to quote that too.

[cds 0]

I think he's gonna be the next Daigle.

i second that. he's just too much of a whiner, i cant wait to see him get smoked.

When has crosby ever been a whiner? He has never been to cocky but yet not underconfident. Please tell one time he has ever complained. I'd like to see how'd you would react being on national television at 16. He has never complained once that there is to much pressure on him. On the otherhand Ovechin is a huge whiner I just cant see him being that good. At the world juniors when Russia was loseing to Canada he completely gave up it was like the energy was sucked out of him. I believe he blamed it on an arm injury or something.

I think he means, breaking his stick over his knee which he did a few times because he got pissed off, from all the clutching and grabbing.

yeah breaking his stick over his knee slamming his stick on the ice etc.. hes done this quite a bit, its not going to get any better i think we will see more of this from him.

With the amount of crap he takes on the ice, it's surprising that he doesn't do anything worse.

[Chadd 916]

I have a feeling the refs will make life as easy as possible for him out there.

As I'm sure they've been instructed to do.

[Miike 1]

Well with the amount of penalties they have been calling for stick infractions he will be able to skate, which isnt good for some teams.

[MDE3 0]

As for the Pens, IMO they should be exciting to watch, but they won't finish top four because their defense and overal team defenesive play looks to be fairly weak. Crosby has great potential to score around 70 pts. It wouldn't surprise me.

Pretty good analyses Theo.....also goaltending may continue to be an issue....

Just saw Crosby play against the Sens last night in preseason up in Wilkes Barre......he is the most exciting player on the ice.....not so much flashy....but he seems to make the rest of his linemates better, between great passing decisions, quick footed escapes, and thus his ability to create space....you are always anticipating a scoring opertunity coming....he makes Recce and LeClerc look younger(skating harder to keep up with the kid's energy level on offence)....how long that will last..who knows?

All that said, there are some glaring defensive problems with the Pens, and Mario looked pretty weary already.....back was obviously sore..so he becomes even more of a defensive liability out there..made a couple of real bonehead passes/giveaways you would not expect from someone with his experience....if Mario cannot pick it up..he should consider hanging it up. He is still a force offensively with his smarts and hands, but I do not know if it off-sets his lack of prowess/energy on the other side of the puck.

The worst thing I saw for Crosby, was the lack of back check energy exhibited by a lot of the Penguins vets....like it was let the "rooks" take care of that part of the game..good energy on offence..not matched by the same energy on defence...That's not the kind of example you need for a rookie.

Penalties..well obviously the league and refs are working on what levels to call....first period they called everything..mostly on the Pens....three two man advantages for the Sens in the fist period...it was horrible to watch..penalties every 30 seconds...second period they called at a bit little lower level...this time more on the Sens....third period they let a lot more go.....It looked deliberate to me....evaluating the crowd's reaction to how they should let them play....

[JGraz15 53]

It will be tough for Crosby to win Rookie of the year if Ovechkin plays like this consistently

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID=138268

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

Crosby will have an awesome career. Strong on his skates, soft hands, great vision and he may be one of the most passionnate player in the NHL. I was tallking to a guy that played with him last week and he said that Crosby never stop playing hockey, he's always with a stick in his hands or training off-ice or drinking his big ugly bottle of water, that were his words. He loves the game so much, he will never be a flop...

[Hockeyman9621 0]

Crosby will have an awesome career. Strong on his skates, soft hands, great vision and he may be one of the most passionnate player in the NHL. I was tallking to a guy that played with him last week and he said that Crosby never stop playing hockey, he's always with a stick in his hands or training off-ice or drinking his big ugly bottle of water, that were his words. He loves the game so much, he will never be a flop...

Well said. He works too hard to be a bust.