sanitysrequiem
Registered User
- Nov 14, 2009
- 1,426
- 115
Okay so I'm trying to think as rationally as I can for this thread, though the subject makes it easy to think irrationally. I've watched Crosby for years and years, and he is my favourite player. I think his absolute prime being cut short by injuries is a huge shame, and that he has been robbed of 3-4 Art Ross and Hart trophies, severely hurting his legacy so far.
I think most Pens fans would agree that Crosby turned a corner in November 2009. That month he just seemed to "put it all together" and became far and away the best player in the league. He became a dominant, complete offensive player while being very good defensively even while paired with some pretty terrible linemates.
For the next 200 games after November 2009, Sid produced at a 1.67 point/game clip, good for 135 points over 82 games. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that he would have surpassed 130 points in 2010/11 had he remained healthy. To me, that year was his absolute peak. It was a joy to watch him create scoring chances on every shift and carry the team on his back with his dominance.
And then, of course, the injuries happened. Right when he was playing the best hockey of his career. I watched him closely after he came back from the concussion/s, but he just hasn't seemed like the same player as before. I think this has been very accentuated especially this season - he is only on pace for 115 points rather than the 135 pt pace he sustained for so long prior to this year.
And more importantly, Sid just doesn't look right. He isn't as engaged in the play, his board play and explosiveness are weaker, his timing and shot isn't quite right, and he isn't generating or finishing as well as he used to.
My biggest hope after he got these injuries is that Crosby would put up that "one" full dominant season, where he scored 130+ points like he is capable of. That would shut up the naysayers who say he couldn't have done it if he was healthy, and will cement his legacy because it will prove what he was capable of if he didnt have injuries.
But my biggest fear at this point is that it's too late to do that. Obviously Dupuis hasn't been great but Crosby just has looked really bad by his standards. And I'm not sure whether its an extended slump or if this is the beginning of a slow decline for him, combined with the lingering impact of his concussion.
If you look at analyses, it's been shown that elite scorers peak between 24-26. Crosby is 26 now so it's quite possible that he is at the beginning of a decline. Further, look no further than Patrice Bergeron to see the effects of a concussion on a player, even after they have "healed." It's quite possible that crosbys reflexes and vision and coordination and cognitive functions are slightly worse, and it's being reflected in his play.
Like I said this may sound irrational but it's my biggest fear for Crosby.
So what do you guys think. Have we seen the best of Sidney Crosby? Has he peaked and suffered negative effects from the concussion? or will he come back and surpass his 2010/11 form? Will he get that one dominant season of 130+ points or has the ship sailed?
I think most Pens fans would agree that Crosby turned a corner in November 2009. That month he just seemed to "put it all together" and became far and away the best player in the league. He became a dominant, complete offensive player while being very good defensively even while paired with some pretty terrible linemates.
For the next 200 games after November 2009, Sid produced at a 1.67 point/game clip, good for 135 points over 82 games. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that he would have surpassed 130 points in 2010/11 had he remained healthy. To me, that year was his absolute peak. It was a joy to watch him create scoring chances on every shift and carry the team on his back with his dominance.
And then, of course, the injuries happened. Right when he was playing the best hockey of his career. I watched him closely after he came back from the concussion/s, but he just hasn't seemed like the same player as before. I think this has been very accentuated especially this season - he is only on pace for 115 points rather than the 135 pt pace he sustained for so long prior to this year.
And more importantly, Sid just doesn't look right. He isn't as engaged in the play, his board play and explosiveness are weaker, his timing and shot isn't quite right, and he isn't generating or finishing as well as he used to.
My biggest hope after he got these injuries is that Crosby would put up that "one" full dominant season, where he scored 130+ points like he is capable of. That would shut up the naysayers who say he couldn't have done it if he was healthy, and will cement his legacy because it will prove what he was capable of if he didnt have injuries.
But my biggest fear at this point is that it's too late to do that. Obviously Dupuis hasn't been great but Crosby just has looked really bad by his standards. And I'm not sure whether its an extended slump or if this is the beginning of a slow decline for him, combined with the lingering impact of his concussion.
If you look at analyses, it's been shown that elite scorers peak between 24-26. Crosby is 26 now so it's quite possible that he is at the beginning of a decline. Further, look no further than Patrice Bergeron to see the effects of a concussion on a player, even after they have "healed." It's quite possible that crosbys reflexes and vision and coordination and cognitive functions are slightly worse, and it's being reflected in his play.
Like I said this may sound irrational but it's my biggest fear for Crosby.
So what do you guys think. Have we seen the best of Sidney Crosby? Has he peaked and suffered negative effects from the concussion? or will he come back and surpass his 2010/11 form? Will he get that one dominant season of 130+ points or has the ship sailed?
