He's done this for years now. Shouldn't be surprising to anyone.
His season doesn't start until the trade deadline.
His season doesn't start until the trade deadline.
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.
Were Flyers goalies in net when he had 8 points in 6 games against Washington?He looked good in the playoffs because flyers goalies can't stop a beach ball.
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.
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.
21 points in 12 games last playoffs. Crosby is still the best player when he tries to be.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.
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)?
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.
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.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.