Sidney Crosby is a very special player the likes of which we haven't seen since Lemieux/Gretzky in my opinion. I'll root for the guy all the way up until it's Pens/Kings for the Cup final. Players like him are why sports, and hockey, can be so incredible.
This. Absolutely.
Malkin is a stud and one of the best ever but I think when it's all said and done he will be compared more to Messier or Sakics level rather than Gretz or Lemiuex.
Your other post leads me to believe you don't follow Malkin that much since you said Crosby led the Penguins to a cup despite Evgeni Malkin leading the team in scoring and winning the Conn Smythe. In addition like Crosby, Malkin has numerous records and after this season will have far more awards then Crosby. Even general competing, assuming Malkin wins the Hart this year that would mean in 3 of his 6 NHL seasons he has finished in the top 2 for the Hart. Keep in mind despite Crosby's injuries Malkin has also had some injuries and has played 1 fewer season then Sid.
Even if Sid is better their is no way Malkin doesn't make a legitimate case.
I'm not saying different but if you think someone is going to come out and say this I have a bridge to sell ya too.
I want the Golden Gate Bridge. Gold.
I understand that he can say that in the media - however people defending him for balking a team is rather hilarious.
Also Smyth looked more like Westgarth out there tonight, definitely a plus that the Kings dumped that contract.
I don't think the reasons he told the media were his true intentions. Smyth probably always intended to finish career with the Oilers, play his last season in Edmonton. When he signed his 4(?) year deal with Colorado he probably assumed he'd play at least 1-2 more years afterwards.
Then, at the end of last season he realized how sore he was and the wear and tear that the season was having on his body. He was afraid he would be jeopardizing that goal of playing in Edmonton one last time if he didn't ask for a trade. He didn't do it for his kids education, he did it because he was legitimately afraid that this would be his last season. He could either go to Edmonton to potentially close out his career like he always planned on, or play his last season in LA which, although likely a playoff team, gave no guarantee of a cup. Not to mention, 82 games in Edmonton would be a lot easier on his body than 90 games with LA. If he was confident he'd have at least 2 more season in him (last summer) then he'd have played out his contract and signed with the oilers in the off season.
He's a free agent this year. He could've signed this year for a low salary with the Oilers and played 3rd-4th line duty (like he does now) next year and retire then.
But like I said, the Kings are better of without Smyth who can't make it past November with his game...
He's a free agent this year. He could've signed this year for a low salary with the Oilers and played 3rd-4th line duty (like he does now) next year and retire then.
But like I said, the Kings are better of without Smyth who can't make it past November with his game...
I know he's a free agent this year. The entire point of my post was to point out that Smyth was afraid he wouldn't make it to free agency and he'd have to retire due to not physically being able to play another season. If he was confident he could play next season, he would never have asked to be traded.
You guys are crazy. What has Malkin ever done to compare himself to Sid? Sure he's had 3 awesome years but he's never LED HIS TEAM to an Olympic Gold medal or even won a World Junior gold. And he only won his Stanley Cup because Sid was there to lead the way. Could Malkin be called the 2nd best in the world? Sure. But close to or on par with Sid? Never.
Dude, Malkin was the main reason the Pens won the Cup, not Sid.
In the 2009 playoffs he was unstoppable.
Dude, Malkin was the main reason the Pens won the Cup, not Sid.
In the 2009 playoffs he was unstoppable.
You guys, he only had 5 more points and 1 less goal than Crosby in those playoffs. Sid still led the team on and off the ice and again Malking was just a benefit of that. Just because he won the Conn Smythe doesn't mean he was the leader, ask the players in the room. The media just appoints that trophy to whoever has the most points because they are too scared to actually have their own opinion. It happens in all sports. But hey, if you guys would rather have Malkin on your team, that's fine with me. I'll take Sid any day of the week
You guys, he only had 5 more points and 1 less goal than Crosby in those playoffs. Sid still led the team on and off the ice and again Malking was just a benefit of that. Just because he won the Conn Smythe doesn't mean he was the leader, ask the players in the room. The media just appoints that trophy to whoever has the most points because they are too scared to actually have their own opinion. It happens in all sports. But hey, if you guys would rather have Malkin on your team, that's fine with me. I'll take Sid any day of the week
It's ridiculous how blindly you are speaking.
Malkin won the Conn Smythe because he was the best player on the Penguins. Crosby was the reason they almost lost in the finals against the Red Wings. In 7 games Sid was shutout 5 times and was a minus player for the entire series. Crosby had 2 assists that series 1 of which was a secondary, while Malkin had 6 assists that series and all 6 were primary assists. In addition Malkin had the 2 goals to Sid's 1 goal. Sid was in the top stars of the game 1 of the 7 games, Malkin was in the top stars in 4 of the 7 games. Malkin was the reason they won and the rightful winner of the Conn Smythe.
You are overrating Crosby's leadership so much it's laughable. Do you remember what happened the season the Penguins won the cup?
The Penguins were struggling so bad that season under "Crosby's great leadership," that they were about to miss the playoffs and people wanted Sid stripped of the "C" some wanted Sid traded to fill other needs some wanted Malkin traded to fill other needs. Of course neither happened but what did happen to turn that season around? 57 games into the season with the Penguins looking like they would miss the playoffs they fired Head Coach Michel Therrien and Dan Bylsma stepped in. The Penguins went 18-3-4 under Bylsma and went on to win the cup. Bylsma also voted the NHL coach most players want to play for. Yet somehow you would label all of this as a coincidence? Other players step up and play well, Crosby gets credit because he wears the 'C' the team turns it around and Crosby gets credit because he wears the 'C'... Sid isn't a bad captain but you are giving him way to much credit.
Even with the Team Canada thing. You make it sound like Sid strapped that team to his back carried them to gold all by himself.
Like mentioned though, the remark was saying even if Crosby was/is better Malkin can make a case, something you smugly remarked to as "Not a chance," as if Sid is head and shoulders out of his league.
With all the Pens talk we have a couple of players that they will never have as long as both Syd and Malky are on the team and it is sort of to their detriment. We even have Toffi coming up to ready who is better than any Pens prospect by a very long way.
Our D is significantly better and deeper than theirs and so is the rest of our team with the exception of how ridiculously talented they are with Malkin and Crosby. As for team balance I like us allot better. We just need to play with the same amount of confidence and consistent balance as they do and we will have a cup or two to show for it.
Our D is significantly better and deeper than theirs and so is the rest of our team with the exception of how ridiculously talented they are with Malkin and Crosby. As for team balance I like us allot better. We just need to play with the same amount of confidence and consistent balance as they do and we will have a cup or two to show for it.
Could you breakdown how the Kings are more balanced then the Penguins? Considering the Penguins are arguably the most balanced team in the NHL. Strong goalie, #1 offense with depth all the way to line 3, and an above average defensive group featuring a strong top 4.
You are overrating Crosby's leadership so much it's laughable. Do you remember what happened the season the Penguins won the cup?
The Penguins were struggling so bad that season under "Crosby's great leadership," that they were about to miss the playoffs and people wanted Sid stripped of the "C" some wanted Sid traded to fill other needs some wanted Malkin traded to fill other needs. Of course neither happened but what did happen to turn that season around?
Yet they still made the playoffs and won the cup right? Or am I forgetting something?
Wow what a terrible captain, his team was struggling (9th place struggling...) 30 some odd games in and they still won the cup.
Yet they still made the playoffs and won the cup right? Or am I forgetting something?
Wow what a terrible captain, his team was struggling (9th place struggling...) 30 some odd games in and they still won the cup.
What a horrible captain.
-_-
Selective reading? Read the entire post.
Quote:
57 games into the season with the Penguins looking like they would miss the playoffs they fired Head Coach Michel Therrien and Dan Bylsma stepped in. The Penguins went 18-3-4 under Bylsma and went on to win the cup.
Quote:
Sid isn't a bad captain but you are giving him way to much credit.
Could you breakdown how the Kings are more balanced then the Penguins? Considering the Penguins are arguably the most balanced team in the NHL. Strong goalie, #1 offense with depth all the way to line 3, and an above average defensive group featuring a strong top 4.
Average....defensive group. Just average. We are a way deeper team in the defensive end and in goaltending.
I read the whole thing, but you were going out of your way to make points about Crosbys captaining, that there was really no connection to.
I mean...his team was in 9th at the 40 game mark and that is somehow product of his play? How does it come down to one player in that situation? And again, they STILL made the playoffs, and Crosby had a 100+ point season.
Also saying they were ABOUT TO MISS THE PLAYOFFS....at the 40 game mark...
you realize they went in as the 4 seed right? That's almost missing the playoffs?
I always thought Eric Wellwood was a steal in the 6th round. He was always a really solid player in Windsor.
I think it was one of those Matt Calvert situations...where a player got passed by so many times because he was "Just playing on a good team with good linemates."
Average....defensive group. Just average. We are a way deeper team in the defensive end and in goaltending.
How is the Penguins defensive group just average? Letang, Michalek, Orpik, Martin, Niskanen, Engelland. Can you really name 12-15 teams that have a better group?
Quick is having the better season but MAF isn't chopped liver he is still having a good year and certainly has the proven history. You could even say MAF is outplaying Quick in the month of March with a higher save percentage of .924% over 11 games. Even if you give the edge to the Kings in goaltending it's not like the Penguins are far behind. If they met Quick will have to face the #1 offense where MAF will face the #29 offense.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaygokings
I read the whole thing, but you were going out of your way to make points about Crosbys captaining, that there was really no connection to.
I mean...his team was in 9th at the 40 game mark and that is somehow product of his play? How does it come down to one player in that situation? And again, they STILL made the playoffs, and Crosby had a 100+ point season.
Also saying they were ABOUT TO MISS THE PLAYOFFS....at the 40 game mark...
you realize they went in as the 4 seed right? That's almost missing the playoffs?
Read the response I was referring to. His response to Malkin winning the Conn Smythe was to discredit it by saying Crosby's leadership was the reason they won.
Plus like I said you spoke as if I said he was a horrible captain, which I never said. I simply said he was giving Sid to much credit as a leader.
The 40 game mark photo was just the only screenshot I had, like I mentioned Therrien was fired at the 57 game mark where the Penguins were still struggling and missing the playoffs. They turned it around after the coaching change. The whole point is what do you think was the reason they turned it around? Was it because Sid's leadership was so great made everyone else around him start gelling? Or was it because they changed coaches and the new coach simply made the appropriate changes to maximize there potential?
I still feel like you aren't reading the quote correctly. At the trade deadline the Penguins were sitting out of the playoffs, they were debating whether to be sellers or not. The coaching change was an intern deal the season was on life support. They made it as the 4th seed because they went 18-3-4 under Bylsma and scored a record 40 points in his first 25 games.
Without the coaching change in 2009 the Penguins are likely sellers at the deadline.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaygokings
Also in regards to the Olympics, Crosby had 7 points in 7 games including the overtime game winner in the gold medal game.
I would say that is putting the team on your back to a degree....
So you can't give any credit to anyone else? 5 of the top 10 scorers in the tournament were on team Canada all 5 had 7+ points. Toews won the MVP, Luongo was strong, the defense was strong, the bottom 6 were strong. Canada was already the favorites to win it all as they are every year and Ryan Miller was the only reason the USA was even relevant. If the USA won we could easily say Ryan Miller carried that team, but you cannot look at Canada and say Crosby carried that team. He was a key piece, but he did not carry them.
