Well, it took 3 posts to deviate from my intentions of sharing insights related to the growth marketing of hockey, however tonight's events have certainly proved significant enough to make an exception.
After what seemed like an eternity, tonight marked the first opportunity of the season to marvel at the gifts of Sidney Crosby. Having watched Crosby from the time he was named the Most Valuable Player at the Canada Winter Games as a fourteen year old (a tournament almost exclusively for sixteen year old major junior rookies), I have never been able to succinctly articulate what makes him so special. Tonight it became clear: Nobody does things as quickly as he does. Combine that with the fact that his overall skillset is more diverse than any forward in the game, and you have the consensus best player in the world and a once in a generation talent.
While most highlight reels will focus on his two goals, Crosby's first assist exemplifies his ability to make high-degree of difficulty plays almost instantaneously. On the play, Crosby is able to make a backhanded pass 40-plus feet across the ice that arrives flat for a Brooks Orpik one-timer.
After what seemed like an eternity, tonight marked the first opportunity of the season to marvel at the gifts of Sidney Crosby. Having watched Crosby from the time he was named the Most Valuable Player at the Canada Winter Games as a fourteen year old (a tournament almost exclusively for sixteen year old major junior rookies), I have never been able to succinctly articulate what makes him so special. Tonight it became clear: Nobody does things as quickly as he does. Combine that with the fact that his overall skillset is more diverse than any forward in the game, and you have the consensus best player in the world and a once in a generation talent.
While most highlight reels will focus on his two goals, Crosby's first assist exemplifies his ability to make high-degree of difficulty plays almost instantaneously. On the play, Crosby is able to make a backhanded pass 40-plus feet across the ice that arrives flat for a Brooks Orpik one-timer.
Oh yeah, that pass was made on ice that had seen 17 minutes of action prior to the 2-0 goal. Therein lies Crosby's understated genius.
Crosby is unlikely to ever threaten any of Wayne Gretzky's scoring records. However, The Great One never had to face defensemen possessing the sheer size and physicality of Zdeno Chara or opposing forwards with the checking ability of Pavel Datsyuk. No disrespect to the Brian Trottier's of the world, but I don't think Trots could do this.
Not to mention, I haven't seen too many goalies that look like this in between the pipes nowadays.
Sorry, Panger.
Love him or loathe him, Sid the Kid is back and the game of hockey is infinitely better (and more marketable) for it.
Welcome back Sid. Keep making us '87s proud.
Yours in hockey,
JK
Love him or loathe him, Sid the Kid is back and the game of hockey is infinitely better (and more marketable) for it.
Welcome back Sid. Keep making us '87s proud.
Yours in hockey,
JK
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