What's up with Crosby?

Dominance

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Sep 30, 2017
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Y’all never learn. This must be the fifth year in a row we’ve had a thread like this around the start of the season.

His line has looked super dangerous and he himself has been downright robbed by great goaltending a handful of times. He could easily have 3-5 goals and a dozen points right now if a couple bounces went different ways. The points will come, they always do.

I do wish he would skate more, though. I always have this complaint with him during the regular season. He doesn’t often try to drive the play towards the net with the puck on his stick, when he obviously has the skill to do so.
 

Tasty Biscuits

with fancy sauce
Aug 8, 2011
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I do wish he would skate more, though. I always have this complaint with him during the regular season. He doesn’t often try to drive the play towards the net with the puck on his stick, when he obviously has the skill to do so.

Same. He'll defer almost to a fault. Especially in 3-on-3 the other night against VAN. Absolutely had opportunities to just out-skill/drive players to get the puck to the net, but didn't. Sure, it's a safer style of play that will results in less turnovers/hits, but he's absolutely more effective when he plays with a bit more reckless abandon.
 

Luigi Lemieux

Registered User
Sep 26, 2003
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No one can play at an elite level forever. He either hit 100 points or was on pace for 100 points every season from age 18 to age 27. Since then he's been more of a 85-95 point guy. The fact that he played at such a high level for so long is very rare in itself. He doesn't have the stamina for it anymore for a whole season, but we'll see him at his typical high level in the playoffs.

And for anyone doubting his playoff ability - fun fact, among active players only Crosby (185 points in 160 games) and Malkin (165 points in 158 games) have a playoff ppg above 1.0.
 
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Sidney the Kidney

One last time
Jun 29, 2009
55,519
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Crosby doesn't do regular seasons.

Seriously, I know some folks are going to quickly yell "excuses!", but it's true when you look at his work ethic. It's not that he's not producing, it's that he's coasting a lot more than vintage Crosby would.

To be honest, it's annoying to watch as a fan. I don't like seeing my favorite player just going through the motions most nights. But I guess it is what it is now.
 

Paperbagofglory

Registered User
Nov 15, 2010
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So it was a grace period. Now its the regular season is not important. You guys sound like field workers for how many goal posts you move in such a short time. Players get old. Sidney is still top 10 but anything above that is debateable. Losing to your rivals that you used to dominant is a sign that times are changing and the Penguins are on a downswing. I am sorry for your loss, denial is part of the process, take your time.
 

kladorf2005

Registered User
Apr 20, 2018
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I say that moreso to the people saying he's just taking it easy because it's the RS. I think great players can do both. I'm sure he'll get hot soon though but a rather inconspicuous start.

Ovi has never coasted through a RS before? Gotten off to a slow start? It happens to everyone. No one gives 100% effort 100% of the time.
 

X66

114-110
Aug 18, 2008
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Something tells me Crosby is going to rip it tonight against the Leafs.

Hearing all summer how the Leafs have the best center depth in the entire NHL etc, I feel Crosby saves himself for the playoffs now, but something also tells me that he's gonna be a beast tonight just to show he obviously can still be that guy.
 

b in vancouver

Registered User
Jul 28, 2005
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No one can play at an elite level forever. He either hit 100 points or was on pace for 100 points every season from age 18 to age 27. Since then he's been more of a 85-95 point guy. The fact that he played at such a high level for so long is very rare in itself. He doesn't have the stamina for it anymore for a whole season, but we'll see him at his typical high level in the playoffs.

And for anyone doubting his playoff ability - fun fact, among active players only Crosby (185 points in 160 games) and Malkin (165 points in 158 games) have a playoff ppg above 1.0.

It's amazing how many more playoff points those two have than their peers. Once a few of the older guys retire it'll be interesting to see how 3-15 career playoff points plays out because I highly doubt anyone from that age group is going to even come close to those two.
P. Kane, Getzlaf, Giroux, Ovechkin and Kucherov aren't that far off PPG.

Crosby could coast half the season and I'd still take him before anyone.
 
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Nathaniel

Registered User
Oct 18, 2013
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Something tells me Crosby is going to rip it tonight against the Leafs.

Hearing all summer how the Leafs have the best center depth in the entire NHL etc, I feel Crosby saves himself for the playoffs now, but something also tells me that he's gonna be a beast tonight just to show he obviously can still be that guy.
21 points in 12 games last playoffs. Crosby is still the best player when he tries to be.
 

Zuluss

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May 19, 2011
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I'll preface this by saying I did zero research, but how many guys in the last 20 or so years are pro-rating to 40+ goals in the CF/SCF (with a sample size close to Crosby's)?

Very few players were lucky enough to play on a team (or teams) that reach SCF 4 times, so if you want a sample that big, comparables will be few and far between.
From the limited research I did some time ago on the post-lockout generation, Malkin and Kane scored at 32 goals per 82 games clip in CF and SCF. Toews, of all people, scored at 29-per-82 clip. Crosby, again, is at 22-per-82. (That's not to mention his 4 goals in 25 SCF games, which pro-rate to 12-per-82). It is hard to put a positive spin on that.
 

Future GOAT

Registered User
Apr 4, 2017
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I get that this is a bait thread but it's been what like 5 games? Crosby's gonna pick it up like usual. This is silly.
 

Troubadour

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Feb 23, 2018
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Crosby's still one of the all-time greats, but the guy did turn 31 this year.

Gretzky after 30 - One Art Ross
Lemieux after 30 - One Art Ross
Esposito after 30 - One Art Ross
Dionne after 30 - Two big seasons, didn't win the Ross
Jagr after 30 - One big season, didn't win the Ross
Sakic after 30 - One big season, didn't win the Ross

Lafleur after 30 - Not an Art Ross contender
Yzerman after 30 - Not an Art Ross contender
Hull after 30 - Not an Art Ross contender, spent most of his time in the WHA
Orr after 30 - Wasn't even playing anymore

And these are the all-time great scoring threats of the post-expansion era.

It's reasonable to think Crosby will have one or maybe two more seasons contending for a scoring title, but the expectation really ought to be that he'll soon slide down to the PPG range and enter the late-career phase where he focuses on playing a two way game.

Not sure what your definition of "big season" is, but Sakic finished a season with 100 pts at 37. The big season you're talking about is probably 00/01 when he was already 31. In three out of the four years between 00/01 and 06/07, he scored at a PPG pace or over.

Jagr followed a 123 point season (he was 34 at that time) with a 96 point season (at 35).

If we are to judge by what has been happening since Sid turned thirty, it seems that aging well in the RS is not as high on Sid's to-do list. Nothing wrong with that as long as the Pens make the play-offs where he can use all the energy he has saved up. On the other hand, it appears as though he won't be anywhere close to a point producer those guys were when he's about 35, and it does not appear he will be a scoring title contender ever again, let alone twice.
 

Paul4587

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Jan 26, 2006
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Sample size. Just like Matthews on his red hot start, you can’t judge either based on a half dozen games.
 

tarheelhockey

Offside Review Specialist
Feb 12, 2010
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Not sure what your definition of "big season" is, but Sakic finished a season with 100 pts at 37. The big season you're talking about is probably 00/01 when he was already 31. In three out of the four years between 00/01 and 06/07, he scored at a PPG pace or over.

Jagr followed a 123 point season (he was 34 at that time) with a 96 point season (at 35).

If we are to judge by what has been happening since Sid turned thirty, it seems that aging well in the RS is not as high on Sid's to-do list. Nothing wrong with that as long as the Pens make the play-offs where he can use all the energy he has saved up. On the other hand, it appears as though he won't be anywhere close to a point producer those guys were when he's about 35, and it does not appear he will be a scoring title contender ever again, let alone twice.

Have to draw the line for a "big season" somewhere. If we include Jagr's 96 then we also include Gretzky's 97. Then it becomes an argument about Lemieux's 91, and so forth.

I was just talking about Crosby relative to scoring at an Art Ross type pace, like the guys he's being compared to here. It may very well be that he gives us one or two more seasons at that level -- maybe not this year but in the next few years -- but the idea that he's going to perennially be right at the top of the scoring list isn't fair to him.
 

TheAngryHank

Expert
May 28, 2008
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Love how Ovi fans trying to descredit Crosby’s playoff numbers... pure gold.
All the Caps did was eliminate Crosby who takes regular season off so he can be a playoff beast.Caps eliminated Crosby/Penguins and Won the Cup. Guess it hasn't sunk in yet.
 

Nadal On Clay

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Oct 11, 2017
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All the Caps did was eliminate Crosby who takes regular season off so he can be a playoff beast.Caps eliminated Crosby/Penguins and Won the Cup. Guess it hasn't sunk in yet.

3/4 of your post didn’t reflect what I said at all and the other 1/4 is false. In fact, Crosby was a playoff beast last season. Trying do discredit his playoffs numbers using the other team poorness as an excuse is just lame.
 
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