Crosby named team captain

[kosydar 0]

I agree that there is a ton of stuff that happens that fans will never know about with regard to what happens inside the four walls of an NHL locker room. What really makes Alfie, Marleau, Foote, Jokinen, Drake, Smith, Iginla, Koivu, Sundin, Jagr, or Doan captain material? I was just wondering what you mean by "publicity stunt"? Crosby is the last guy to need publicity.

Publicity stunt was poor word choice on my part. What I meant was, its another way to draw attention to Crosby. Not only is he the next Gretzky, but he is also the leader of his team at the age of 19. I think Chadd is exactly right that we all saw this coming, especially after what happened with Ovechkin.

[DarkStar50 679]

Thanks, kosy. I was just confused, no surprise there.

[jeffw 1]

its clearly a great choice considering hes a team leader (on and off the ice) not to mention his performance for the past two seasons. Now he just has to stop whining to the refs. Remember:

"with great power comes great responsibility" :P

Every player in the NHL whines at the refs. Knock it off already.

[TBLfan 25]

It's going to appear that he's whining more because that's apparently what people call it when Sidney talks to a ref.

[godiogo 0]

Maybe he always looks like he's whining to refs because of his appearance. He still looks like a kid. Maybe as he ages it won't seem that way anymore.

[Chadd 916]

Maybe he always looks like he's whining to refs because of his appearance. He still looks like a kid. Maybe as he ages it won't seem that way anymore.

Not using the word "fuck" so frequently in his one-sided "conversations" would result in fewer people calling it whining.

[DarkStar50 679]

As if he is the only pro athlete to use the work "fuck." Please............

[mack 44]

I like how they made this announcement now just so he's officially the youngest captain ever. Thanks, but hold the cheese next time.

[godiogo 0]

A lot of people in the industry want him to accumulate records as fast as possible.

[s Greens 0]

its clearly a great choice considering hes a team leader (on and off the ice) not to mention his performance for the past two seasons. Now he just has to stop whining to the refs. Remember:

"with great power comes great responsibility" :P

Every player in the NHL whines at the refs. Knock it off already.

what do i care if every other player whines in the NHL? crosby is the face of the NHL, role model for thousands of kids across north america and now hes the an even more notable figure as the captain of the penguins. I think its necessary, and im sure he knows, that his constant complaining to the refs about a tiny cheap shot after every whistle has to be kept to a minimum. Thats my opinion anyways

[Chadd 916]

As if he is the only pro athlete to use the work "fuck." Please............

The point was that he still acts like a petulant child. While he may be the most talented player in the league, he hasn't earned the right to be a leader.

[DarkStar50 679]

How the "fuck" do you know?

JK...........

[Fire0nIce228 1]

As if he is the only pro athlete to use the work "fuck." Please............

The point was that he still acts like a petulant child. While he may be the most talented player in the league, he hasn't earned the right to be a leader.

Exactly what does he have to do to earn the right to be a leader in your mind? He already is a leader. He is the ONLY player on that roster that has the ability to take the team on his back and carry them through a game, win or lose. He tries just as hard when they win as when they lose. He makes all the mediocre guys like Armstrong and Oulette into goal scorers. Noone on this board, including you, has ever reffed a game that Crosby has played in, therefore noone on this board can judge exactly how or what he says when he talks to the refferees. None here know what he says in the lockerroom. Maybe he does whine on the ice, but maaaybe in the lockerroom he has a much more commanding role than he does on ice. Even you have to admit from his rookie year to his sophmore year he changed and matured very much. Alot of the guys he plays with are around his own age, so it probobly isn't as hard for them to look up to him or give him some credit as it is for the old vets.

I'm tired of all this he's to young he's too this or that. He's the best player in the league, he has been under a microscope since he was pre-teen and he has handled it all admirably.

Who else is going to captain the pens? Old getting out of the game Recchi, can't barely speak English Gonchar, sit on the pine Thibault, Alaine Naserdine?

[TBLfan 25]

With the mic-ed up you can tell that on the bench he is a leader, he's the guy on the bench talking... He might be a little young but his maturity isn't on par with his age, for the most part.

[ry13 0]

crosby owns

[Chadd 916]

what do i care if every other player whines in the NHL? crosby is the face of the NHL, role model for thousands of kids across north america and now hes the an even more notable figure as the captain of the penguins. I think its necessary, and im sure he knows, that his constant complaining to the refs about a tiny cheap shot after every whistle has to be kept to a minimum. Thats my opinion anyways

I'm not sure that being the captain makes any difference in terms of visibility. He was getting plenty of attention last year without the "C".

With the mic-ed up you can tell that on the bench he is a leader, he's the guy on the bench talking... He might be a little young but his maturity isn't on par with his age, for the most part.

Just because someone talks doesn't mean he's a leader or that others are following.

[Chadd 916]

Exactly what does he have to do to earn the right to be a leader in your mind?

He needs to grow up a little, not acting like a 19 year old kid would be a nice start. Simply because one has the desire to lead doesn't mean that he has earned the respect of his peers in that area. You need followers in order to lead.

He already is a leader.

He thought he should have been the leader from his first day in training camp.

He is the ONLY player on that roster that has the ability to take the team on his back and carry them through a game, win or lose. He tries just as hard when they win as when they lose.

He has the most talent on the team and a fantastic work ethic, you are right.

He makes all the mediocre guys like Armstrong and Oulette into goal scorers.

Talent alone is irrelevant when it comes to naming a captain.

Noone on this board, including you, has ever reffed a game that Crosby has played in, therefore noone on this board can judge exactly how or what he says when he talks to the refferees.

I do know a couple guys who have reffed his games and have been told exactly what he has said and what many officials think of him. Of course, those guys could have been just talking out their ass for no reason.

None here know what he says in the lockerroom. Maybe he does whine on the ice, but maaaybe in the lockerroom he has a much more commanding role than he does on ice.

I only comment on what I see or I am told by reputable sources, I don't guess. You could be right, but anyone can make unfounded suppositions that support their case.

Even you have to admit from his rookie year to his sophmore year he changed and matured very much. Alot of the guys he plays with are around his own age, so it probobly isn't as hard for them to look up to him or give him some credit as it is for the old vets.

Yes, he has matured but he still has a long way to go yet. He didn't respect the guys who had been there and done that when he came into the league, yet he expected everyone to respect him without him ever playing a shift at that level.

I'm tired of all this he's to young he's too this or that. He's the best player in the league, he has been under a microscope since he was pre-teen and he has handled it all admirably.

I never said he was too young, only that he was lacking in maturity. It's a common trait among young athletes.

Who else is going to captain the pens? Old getting out of the game Recchi, can't barely speak English Gonchar, sit on the pine Thibault, Alaine Naserdine?

Given their roster, Sid should be the captain. If they can retain Roberts, and they really could use him on a number of levels, he should be wearing an A. Management created a void in leadership with their signings over the last few years and given the fact that Sid should eventually become captain material, they might as well put the C on his jersey and let him grow into the role. The ideal situation would have been to have an established leader on the team to take some of the pressure off of the kid, but reality has a habit of not being ideal.

[TBLfan 25]

It appears that they are listening but of course what we see is limited by what's made available to us. From what I've seen(I watch every Pens game that I can, aka when the lightning aren't playing and they are on VS/NBC), I've never really seen anyone besides Crosby and Recchi talk like a captain would on the bench.

Personally, I don't exactly agree with this. Crosby seems like a leader but there has to be someone better fit to wear the "C." It's a lot of pressure added to someone with a lot of pressure already on them.

[Hidious 0]

Evrything has been said. His passion/intensity/hunger for victory will make him a great captain but his attitude, his habbit to be sulky (i dunno if the expression is appropriate, i use a translator to find it) when things don't go his way really isn't captain material. But fact is starting young is great, it will just make him an exceptional captain in the future. No doubt.

Edit - I forgot to add: is talking a lot really what a captain is all about? I'm not sure but i don't get to see Koivu or Alfredson talk a lot during games. In Mtl, Souray and Rivet were the ones who talked a lot.

[pantherfan 0]

A captain in no way has to be the most vocal guy on the team but he should be the go to guy, somebody his team mates respect and somebody who leads by example not nessiserrily (sp?) in points.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

Given their roster, Sid should be the captain. If they can retain Roberts, and they really could use him on a number of levels, he should be wearing an A. Management created a void in leadership with their signings over the last few years and given the fact that Sid should eventually become captain material, they might as well put the C on his jersey and let him grow into the role. The ideal situation would have been to have an established leader on the team to take some of the pressure off of the kid, but reality has a habit of not being ideal.

Okay, so are you saying, given the situation, he should be captain? Because that contradicts all the stuff your saying about him being too young, a whiner, etc.

[mack 44]

No, it sounds like in a perfect world he wouldn't be captain yet as he hasn't shown some of the maturity you'd want, but given Pittsburgh's situation he's their best candidate.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

Well we're talking real world not perfect world.

[s Greens 0]

Well we're talking real world not perfect world.

...and therefore he is the captain

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Well we're talking real world not perfect world.

I'm sure making him captain is a great move, just ask vinny le cav or Joe Thornton