Of course, but not without Kunitz.
- A_SteamingLombardi

So Kunitz has been elevating Crosby this whole time? Can I see the fancy stat on that?

Yes its called bang for the buck. Pittsburgh can't get great depth because they pay so much to 2 players who aren't 2 way players.

Crosby and Malkin are clearly 2 of the best offensive players in the game, but being good in the offensive Zone doesn't make you the best player in the NHL.

Datsyuk, Kopitar, and Toews play a way better all around game and they both have TWO cups to prove it.
- classic321

To say Crosby isn't as good defensively as datsyuk, kopitar, or toews is just a ridiculous statement. Bergeron only has 1 cup, the same as Sid and geno, so he's not as good defensively as the others? You're basing players off the awards they were nominated and not seeing them play. Sid is constantly relied on in defending one goal games and taking defensive draws. Many argue that Sid is the best player in the nhl because he can play a strong 2 way game.

So Kunitz has been elevating Crosby this whole time? Can I see the fancy stat on that?
- Grinder47

I'm pretty sure that was sarcasm... If it wasn't, then god help his soul

I'm pretty sure that was sarcasm... If it wasn't, then god help his soul
- drummer829

Hayes news? This SOB could have a chance to play on the Top line. If he doesn't work there, 3rd line should be a possibility.

Hayes news? This SOB could have a chance to play on the Top line. If he doesn't work there, 3rd line should be a possibility.
- Barnaby36

The "rumors" say it's between Boston, Calgary, and Nashville

The "rumors" say it's between Boston, Calgary, and Nashville
- drummer829

What an idiot. He probably doesn't think he's good enough to keep up with the Penguins.

What an idiot. He probably doesn't think he's good enough to keep up with the Penguins.
- Barnaby36

Boston makes sense, but if he's seriously thinking about the flames or predators then I guess he prefers playing time over a cup.

Boston makes sense, but if he's seriously thinking about the flames or predators then I guess he prefers playing time over a cup.
- drummer829

Well, I didn't know his ex-line mates were with the Flames



(Bill Arnold, Kevin Hayes and Johnny Gaudreau)

They could reunite I guess. Sounds like fun.

To say Crosby isn't as good defensively as datsyuk, kopitar, or toews is just a ridiculous statement. Bergeron only has 1 cup, the same as Sid and geno, so he's not as good defensively as the others? You're basing players off the awards they were nominated and not seeing them play. Sid is constantly relied on in defending one goal games and taking defensive draws. Many argue that Sid is the best player in the nhl because he can play a strong 2 way game.
- drummer829

I'm not bashing Sid here at all - his defensive game is better than most give him credit for, but you just compared him to 3 of the top 5 defensive forwards in the game.

Datsyuk, Kopitar, and Toews play a way better all around game and they both have TWO cups to prove it.
- classic321

By that argument Kevin Lowe is a better then Bourque and Orr because he has 6 cups.

NO CUPZ
- Nucker101

They are Swedish Twins , plenty of cups

I'm not bashing Sid here at all - his defensive game is better than most give him credit for, but you just compared him to 3 of the top 5 defensive forwards in the game.
- Canuckleafer

And you can make a valid argument why he is as good or better than those guys in the defensive zone. If Sid played more time on the PK he would be a shoe in for the selke. I personally think the only reason he would never be nominated for a selke is because he's constantly in the Hart and ted Lindsay discussions. It'd be overkill if he were in any more categories.

Wow I forgot this fruit loop dingus won a hart. So did hasek twice and Jose Theodore. This award and the definition of it is a joke. Check out the Lindsay award if u want respek
- Jordy8

I agree.
I said it yesterdays blog.

I'm not bashing Sid here at all - his defensive game is better than most give him credit for, but you just compared him to 3 of the top 5 defensive forwards in the game.
- Canuckleafer

It is hard to judge sid as a defensive player because he always has the puck. I actually think burgeron is probably the best defensive forward. Mainly because he is a beast a faceoffs.

By that argument Kevin Lowe is a better then Bourque and Orr because he has 6 cups.
- Ben37

I would like to point out the winner in mike Richards

Memorial Cup
Wjr gold
Calder cup
Olympics gold
2x stanely cups

I agree.
I said it yesterdays blog.
- tmurph

Except that two awards are different - One's the best player as voted by the league and one is the player who is judged more valuable to his team.

If someone can't understand why Hasek won it in his glory days, I don't really know what to say about that. Buffalo went only as far as Hasek's goaltending.

That, and one's preconceived hatred towards the twins is blinding them to as why Hank won, or at the very least was in contention for the award.

And you can make a valid argument why he is as good or better than those guys in the defensive zone. If Sid played more time on the PK he would be a shoe in for the selke. I personally think the only reason he would never be nominated for a selke is because he's constantly in the Hart and ted Lindsay discussions. It'd be overkill if he were in any more categories.
- drummer829

I don't think anyone outside of Pittsburgh could make an argument that Sidney Crosby is a better defensive forward than Datsyuk, Toews (who is often referred to as the best all-around player in the game today) or Kopitar.

Do you think Babcock cared about the trophy nominations during the Olympics? No, he put the best defensive forwards in the situations that required it. That meant guys like Toews and Bergeron were put into the key PK situations.

I don't think anyone outside of Pittsburgh could make an argument that Sidney Crosby is a better defensive forward than Datsyuk, Toews (who is often referred to as the best all-around player in the game today) or Kopitar.

Do you think Babcock cared about the trophy nominations during the Olympics? No, he put the best defensive forwards in the situations that required it. That meant guys like Toews and Bergeron were put into the key PK situations.
- Canuckleafer

Yes, because they are used to those positions and Sid doesn't work the PK much. Crosby backchecks and positions himself better than any other. IMO he's more of a complete player than any other because he can single handedly put the team on his back offensively, but also be relied on to close out a game. Also what makes Sid so dangerous is that he can keep the puck in the offensive zone the entire time he's out there. If you watch him play you will realize how great he is in his own zone, but his offensive dominance overshadows that

Except that two awards are different - One's the best player as voted by the league and one is the player who is judged more valuable to his team.

If someone can't understand why Hasek won it in his glory days, I don't really know what to say about that. Buffalo went only as far as Hasek's goaltending.

That, and one's preconceived hatred towards the twins is blinding them to as why Hank won, or at the very least was in contention for the award.
- Canuckleafer

I can agree with you on that. I do like Ryan's blogs but he's basing the hart winners on strictly performance and not how valuable they were to their respective teams. Really the only one I had a problem with was last year. Ovi was terrible for half the year, whereas Tavares truly carried his team and got them into the playoffs on a mediocre squad

Yes, because they are used to those positions and Sid doesn't work the PK much. Crosby backchecks and positions himself better than any other. IMO he's more of a complete player than any other because he can single handedly put the team on his back offensively, but also be relied on to close out a game. Also what makes Sid so dangerous is that he can keep the puck in the offensive zone the entire time he's out there. If you watch him play you will realize how great he is in his own zone, but his offensive dominance overshadows that
- drummer829

If he's so good on the PK, then why doesn't he play it? Was Bylsma just such a bad judge of talent?

Flip it the other way. How much more offense would Toews, Bergeron, et al, produce if they didn't play the PK and logged the same minutes per game?

If he's so good on the PK, then why doesn't he play it? Was Bylsma just such a bad judge of talent?

Flip it the other way. How much more offense would Toews, Bergeron, et al, produce if they didn't play the PK and logged the same minutes per game?
- Sandus

Because he already logs huge even strength and PP minutes, and frankly I don't think anyone wants Sid sprawling all over the ice to block slap shots from the point. It just wasn't a role they asked him to play much. One can argue that this may change somewhat under the new regime, we shall see. Personally, I've always wished he an Malkin would not stay out for the whole 2 minutes of the PP, and that we'd see them come over the boards to kill the last 30 seconds of a PK a bit more. Mario made a killing doing this and exploiting tired defensemen at the end of PK situations.

Like I said. Angry Canuck fans.
- Ben37

Really? making a sarcastic statement is 'angry'? You are a hockey god.

Just be careful when you discover there is a western conference. It might be too much for you to take.

Really? making a sarcastic statement is 'angry'? You are a hockey god.

Just be careful when you discover there is a western conference. It might be too much for you to take.
- Beatle_john

West-ern Con-fer-ence? Hmmm if I wasn't from Alberta I might not've heard of it.

Without defining what the award actually stands for and the criteria there-in, the blog is a fraud. Maybe he should argue how Flurey would beat Luongo for the Calder next year.