Crosby isn't a scoring machine because he won't go OPS

[tro 4]

http://www.tsn.ca/columnists/darren_dreger/?id=255557

I can't believe anyone scored a goal prior to OPS. How did hockey players survive so long without the amazing OPS technology!!!

Very dumb article by Dreger.

[RadioGaGa 162]

He scored enough in Jr. with a combo, straight blade...and his first few years in the NHL were pretty good with that set up...Now, all of a sudden it's the equipments problem?

[JGraz15 53]

I saw that this morning, hilarious

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

So, by his logic, it's the stick and shaft combo that has crosby on pace for 22 goals after getting 39 and 39 in his first 2 years.

What's his explanation for Ovechkin, who's 3 goals this season (all with a one piece) has him on pace for 36 goals, after going 52, 48, 65 his first three years.

Clearly ovechkin must need the next generation stick, made from pixie dust and angel dreams to score.

Darren Dreger who has never played in the NHL giving shooting advice to an art ross and hart trophy winner, is like me telling a brain surgeon to use the machete instead of the scalpel, because he will get the head open quicker.

I'm no crosby defender, but seriously, get a grip dreger

[mik3 1]

Well, according to Doc Emerick Crosby is off to a really terrible start, he obviously should be doing better than third most points in the league. This article just lends to that.

[mrusse01 0]

Stories like this are what happens when you combine a 'journalist' like Darren Dreger and a slow news day.

[dangle 0]

See my sig for a quote from a guy from HFboards.com.

:lol:

[skeeter14 0]

I particularly liked this quote from Ray Shero:

"you mean the same stick he used to record 120 points?"

[habsfan87 0]

I think what the main point was is that Crosby has no shot, he isn't a threat from outside and teams know it now(I guess they didn't before.?) To bring up technology on the other hand, wasn't the rigth move. Everyone has preference and a stick is huge to players, he uses the stick he uses for a reason. Is anyone out there tellin broduer to change to newer shoulder pads when he has a slow start, or a player to change skates? The only other case I've heard of trying to get players to change their ways was the height of Wellwoods stick, and he didn't have the season sidney did.

[Cavs019 708]

I've seen Crosby snipe from pretty much anywhere in the offensive zone since he broke into the league. To say that a guy who has scored 39 twice isn't a threat is idiotic. Also, if he isn't a "threat" to score from the outside that still doesn't rule out the fact that he has arguably the best vision in the league with regard to threading the needle with a back door pass.

[phunky_monkey 6]

So, by his logic, it's the stick and shaft combo that has crosby on pace for 22 goals after getting 39 and 39 in his first 2 years.

What's his explanation for Ovechkin, who's 3 goals this season (all with a one piece) has him on pace for 36 goals, after going 52, 48, 65 his first three years.

Clearly ovechkin must need the next generation stick, made from pixie dust and angel dreams to score.

Darren Dreger who has never played in the NHL giving shooting advice to an art ross and hart trophy winner, is like me telling a brain surgeon to use the machete instead of the scalpel, because he will get the head open quicker.

I'm no crosby defender, but seriously, get a grip dreger

Top post on a crap article.

What a joke. :lol:

[Chadd 916]

I've seen Crosby snipe from pretty much anywhere in the offensive zone since he broke into the league. To say that a guy who has scored 39 twice isn't a threat is idiotic. Also, if he isn't a "threat" to score from the outside that still doesn't rule out the fact that he has arguably the best vision in the league with regard to threading the needle with a back door pass.

It is worth noting that most of his goals have come from short to mid range or from puck movement, like one-timers. Then again, you could say the same about a lot of people.

[mik3 1]

Exactly, he's not exactly Al MacInnis out there. Most of the goals he scores he would score them using pretty much any kind of stick.

[Aussie Joe 0]

The GREAT players I have been lucky enough to get on the ice with could score with a pool que.

Honestly, what a load of crap, the journo seems to miss the point entirely.

[habsfan87 0]

Honestly, what a load of crap, the journo seems to miss the point entirely.

thats what I was trying to get at, wasn't defending dreger by any means just trying to say what he was trying to say, don't understand why equipment was brought into this. The best player in the league can't/won't be the best at everything, and overall if his stick helps his passing then i believe that will help the team more than him scoring, thats why Hossa and all the other goal scorers are there. Crosbys not going to be putting out any Kovalev type DVD's anytime soon but I don't think thats his game anyway.

[Aussie Joe 0]

We all have slumps, its called being human. I can blame my shaft if it is broken or not working properly. But if its all kosher, there's no excuse.

[Law Goalie 147]

I think what the main point was is that Crosby has no shot, he isn't a threat from outside and teams know it now(I guess they didn't before.?) To bring up technology on the other hand, wasn't the rigth move. Everyone has preference and a stick is huge to players, he uses the stick he uses for a reason. Is anyone out there tellin broduer to change to newer shoulder pads when he has a slow start, or a player to change skates? The only other case I've heard of trying to get players to change their ways was the height of Wellwoods stick, and he didn't have the season sidney did.

Actually, they will almost certainly be on him about that, after having that shot snap the tendons in his elbow. Wouldn't have happened if he was wearing a Brown...

The ONLY way the "Crosby's Stick" argument holds water is if it's qualified in terms of the way teams are covering him and the way goalies are playing him. They may have figured something out. Now, I think it's most likely a combination of that and Crosby simply not driving the net the way he did in his first two years. He's always carrying the puck and setting people up; never the set-up himself. Dreger's main point was that teams are playing him differently; he's also being forced to approach the game differently. It's just a matter of time until he figures it out... and he's STILL third in the league in points.

Ovechkin is almost certainly a head issue. Family is everything to this guy, and his grandfather's dying; whether or not they were especially close, it must be hitting his parents hard.

[RadioGaGa 162]

I think his struggles have more to do with the fact that for the first time ever in his career he's been banged up.

Ankle last year....ribs/whatever the hell it is this year.

[wildebeest 0]

It might also have something to do with the fact that Gonchar and Whitney have been out the entire season, effectively taking away half of the point production from the blue line and forcing more of the offensive play onto the forwards. When there's not a lot of reason to play tight on the points to keep Gonchar honest, everybody can just collapse onto the forwards.

It ain't rocket surgery.

[mik3 1]

He has 19 points so far. It's not like he's Ryan Maloneing it up out there.

[Chadd 916]

I think his struggles have more to do with the fact that for the first time ever in his career he's been banged up.

Ankle last year....ribs/whatever the hell it is this year.

Chronic groin injuries don't go away.

[epstud74 24]

I dont remember Gretzky having a great shot either. Crosby will get his goals sooner or later.

[AnthonyJTa 0]

Hack journalism at it's finest... Dreger's next piece will be on "How Semin got in Crosby's head.."

[Patrick67 1]

epstud74: Gretzky played against "crap" goaltenders. So many of his goals were gemmies compared to today's game.

Not taking anything away from Gretzky, but you have to shot alot harder/better to beat the goaltenders now.

[DarkStar50 679]

Of the 1016 goals scored by Gretzky in 1695 NHL regular season and playoff games, what % were "gemmies" against "crap" goalies? Some of those "crap" goalies being Billy Smith, Pelle Lindbergh, Tom Barrasso, Ron, Hextall, Ed Belfour, Dom Hasek, and, oh, Patrick Roy? Yes, "they" said Gretzky had no shot but "they" were wrong about a lot of things about Gretzky.

As for Brodeur's elbow tendon, the doctor performing the surgery said that the tendon was 80% torn before surgery. Dr. John Brown could not have saved Brodeur from that injury!