It happened so quickly. Three years after drafting #1 pick, Sidney Crosby, the Pittsburgh Penguins are back in the Stanley Cup Finals. But it wasn't easy, not even close.For the better part of the decade, the Penguins were rebuilding for the future. Stock piling on top draft picks and were supposedly 'tanking', in order to receive those top picks. In 2003, they selected Marc-Andre Fleury, who was dubbed as their 'franchise goalie'. Then the year after, Pittsburgh welcomed Russian superstar and world-class talent, Evgeni Malkin. But then in 2005, the Pittsburgh Penguins hit the jackpot. Miraculously in the NHL lottery, the ball came up as a Penguins logo and they won the 'Sidney Crosby Sweepstakes'. Crosby, who was dubbed as "The Next One", would forever change the hockey culture in the 'Steel City'.
As noted before, the rebuilding wasn't easy, in fact, it was down right painful sometimes. For years, the franchise had to deal with several threats for them to move to another city. This sometimes took the focus off hockey which derailed some seasons for the lowly Penguins. Attendance was real low at the time and it seemed like the city of Pittsburgh, except for die-hard Penguins fans, really didn't cared if the Penguins moved. Sure when the Penguins were good they loved them, but Pittsburgh was more about their beloved Pittsburgh Steelers and to an extent, the Pittsburgh Pirates. Yes, times for hardcore Penguins fans were rough. Not only did they have to suffer watching players such as Rico Fata, Milan Kraft, Dick Tarnstrom and so many others stink up the ice for many years. But they had to deal with the possibility, that the city of Pittsburgh might lose their hockey team.
However, one man or better yet, one 'kid' has transformed the Pittsburgh Penguins into an elite team and is a major reason why the Penguins are staying in Pittsburgh. He's given life to a city that hasn't had this much significant interest in hockey since the Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr days. In Mellon Arena, where they've sold out 67 straight times, jerseys of Sidney Crosby are everywhere. He's made the Penguins to one of the worst teams in the league year in year out, to one of the best. The Penguins turn around in the 2006/2007 season, was the biggest turnaround in NHL history. Then, in only his third season, #87 led his Pittsburgh Penguins back into the Stanley Cup Finals.
For the NHL, this was a dream match-up. The young, explosive Pittsburgh Penguins against the old, experienced Detroit Red Wings. On one end, you've got superstars in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. On the other end, you've got future hall-of-famer Nikolas Lidstrom and elite playoff performer, Henrik Zetterberg. Many of the experts and fans from both sides predicted this series to go six or seven games. It was supposed to be a classic series with stars all over the ice.
In the end though, the Penguins showed their youth by losing to the Red Wings in six games. Yes, the series went out to six games as expected. Yes, the Penguins were never out of it, until they were truly out of it. However, the Wings just dispatched everything the Penguins did. Every game the Penguins struggled to get a solid offensive shift going unless they were on the power play. While on the other side, the Wings had the puck in the Penguins zone for most of every game and out-shot the Pens by a staggering 212-142. For the whole series, it seemed like the Wings had more players on the ice than the Pens. The Wings were better in all phases of the game. They played tough, aggressive hockey while their offense was still finesse like - the perfect combo to beat the Penguins.
Crosby and company were no match for the Wings. They put up a strong effort and that game 5 where they won in three overtimes, will remain in their minds forever. However, it's simple, Detroit had that killer instinct that all championship teams show, while the Penguins were just happy to be there.
If you think this will be the last time that Crosby plays in a Stanley Cup Finals though, oh how wrong you will be.
When Crosby came into the league, he was hyped up for his astonishing and incredible master piece, that is his hockey skills and hockey smarts. But what Crosby was also hyped for, which went unnoticed by many, was how he was and still is so insanely driven to be the best. For Crosby, it isn't about wanting to be the best. No, it's more of needing to be the best, not only for himself, but his team around him. Sure Crosby makes his team much better with his play, that sometimes no one can stop. More importantly though, Crosby makes his team much better by his leadership. The way he has the ability to literally will his team to victory will make him one of the greats in the game. This desire, hunger and ability he possess will also make him a Stanley Cup champion as well.
His answer is the same every year. He wants to feel what it's like. He wants to kiss it over and over again. He wants to raise that 35 pound, big silver object with thousands of names on it. Yes Sidney Crosby's main goal year in and year out, is to win possibly the most glorified trophy in all of sports, that is the Stanley Cup.
Now any hockey player can have that goal, in fact, most players do have that goal. But it's different with Crosby. The look in his eye and the presence he possess about winning is out of the ordinary. He wants to know how Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Bobby Orr felt in their 'hay day'. He's grown up watching the greats, now he wants to be one of the greats. Only true champions have this trait about them. The trait to dream and believe to the highest. Gretzky, Lemieux, and Orr all had those dreams. Now Sidney Crosby has had that dream since the day he was born, and it'll be tough to try to stop that dream of his.
Crosby is so poised to win it all, that he's even stated that he would take a pay-cut in order to win the Stanley Cup. Talk about being unselfish. Most players dream about winning the Stanley Cup, but most would rather take the big pay-check. Do you really think that someone with that much hunger will get shut out in his career? Do you really believe that someone with that mindset, that motor that keeps him going, will go down as a playoff-bust? No, I don't think so either. He's too good of a player and leader on and off the ice for that to happen. For a 'kid' that is only in his third season, is already thinking about winning the Stanley Cup now, I'm sure somehow, someway with his abilities he'll get there. Whether it's in Pittsburgh, or it's in another city, I don't know, but he has all the tools to get there and win.
There's no doubt in my mind that Sidney Crosby can lead a team all the way. He has everything, the play-making ability, the smarts, the leadership, etc. He doesn't need to be the 'go-to-guy' though in Pittsburgh. Crosby's team is full of young guns that will eventually turn into elite players. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury can already make a case as an elite goaltender. Evgeni Malkin is already one of the top five players in the league, Staal is turning into a solid third line centre, and other players such as Kris Letang and Ryan Whitney are developing well for the young Pens. So in a way, Crosby never needs to do it all for them, even though he will try anyway. Crosby can depend other players like Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal and even Marian Hossa, if GM Ray Shero decides to keep him, to step up if he's struggling. How does he know that he can depend on others? When Crosby was out for three months, due to a high ankle sprain, Malkin went on a tear and it seemed like Crosby was never even out.
With the Penguins roster already stacked as it is for the coming years, Crosby should have plenty of opportunities.
The Detroit Red Wings were just way too strong for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals. They couldn't be stopped and it took the Penguins a full 110% effort in order to win a game. However, this is a great learning experience for Crosby. All this will do is fuel him for next year to win it. After having that sour taste in his mouth for the next several months, look for Sid 'the Kid' to be on a roll next year, along with his team.
The Red Wings showed why they're champions, Crosby and his band of Penguins showed why they will be champions in the near future.
No comments:
Post a Comment