Paul Stewart: Time for Crosby to Lead

good luck with that...

Wow. Very, very good blog Mr. Stewart.

Excellent article. Fair criticism of a great player. Could you imagine the NHL, The Hockey News, or the national broadcast guys having the guts to write this? I sure could not.

Bravo Paul.
First, to be fair to Crosby, he did in fact pull a teammate aside and talk to him this year. After the Olympics, he pulled Evgeni Malkin aside and spoke with/to him. This resulted in an improved level of 71's play following the conversation.

That said, all we continue to see in the post season is failure after failure after failure. I used to get infuriated at the national media's love affair with Toews as a leader. It sickens me. However, when compared to 87, how can I blame them? Toews wins in the post season. His teams raise their level of play, Crosby's do not.

When Lemieux and Messier captained teams, they refused to lose. They brought their game to an even higher level. Mario led by example more than talk and could take his team on his back and win almost alone. Messier had his famous guarantee in game 6 against NJ then went out and backed it up with a hat trick. When have we seen something like this from Sidney Crosby? He had a goal in a blow out game 7 win against Washington a few seasons ago, but he really doesnt have that signature moment in the playoffs. Even the game 7 Cup win at Detroit was mostly accomplished with 87 on the bench due to a bum knee received earlier in the game.

The officials aren't helping Sidney Crosby. No, he isn't innocent, but incidents with Marc Staal treating Sid's head like a pinata do nothing but give the league a black eye. Shouldnt the game's greatest stage be a chance for the greatest talents to show their skill rather than their intestinal fortitude? This is not to make excuses for the inexcusable: Paul you got it wrong with the Crosby shot to the groin of Moore. Moore held Crosby's stick for most of the previous shift. No penalty, of course. Fine, that's nothing new in the playoffs. Sid has been around long enough to know that. But please dont act like Sid's stick to Moore's junk was a premeditated act....
Crosby has no excuse for losing his temper. The slew-foot earlier in the game has no place in hockey. Nor does his shot to the groin--even if his stick was held. This is where he has to lead by example. 87 cannot allow these things to get under his skin, even if the on-ice officials--for whatever reason--refuse to call a penalty. Team's know they can get under his skin.

Finally back to one of your earlier points.... Mario Lemieux even now is showing he is much more of a captain than Crosby will ever be. Reports in Pittsburgh media have Lemieux meeting with Crosby in the locker room--alone--following game 6. Could this be one of those "pulling of to the sides" you mentioned?

What a shame all the talent in Pittsburgh is being wasted. Again. You are probably right, Bylsma will pay with his job. and if the next coach doesn't get your exact message through to Sid, 3 years from now, we will be saying the same thing about his job too...

Maybe Lucic and Crosby can have a ball spearing contest

Oh the Humanity !!!

Maybe Lucic and Crosby can have a ball spearing contest

Oh the Humanity !!!

- BruinBlood

Won't somebody please think of the children?!

The one criticism that Paul missed was that Crosby tends to start trouble and has his teammates finish it for him. So Crosby spears Moore in the stones. Moore then has some words for Crosby. Finally, Kunitz comes and tackles Moore. Explain how this is good leadership? If Crosby is going to do the damnable thing, he at least has to stick up for himself and not expect his teammates to go to bat for him. That is what real leaders do. Heck, that is what real men do.

Does anyone have that bald turd pierre McGuire's and that rambling old fart doc emrick's Email address?

We should send this as soon as possible so that maybe they become a little more educated on the obvious.

I just hope Pierre would have the time to read it, as I would imagine he has been working non stop on his knees trying to comfort these spoiled little bit ches!

Paul Stewart: Time for Crosby to Lead
- Paul Stewart

Crosby is not a leader. I doubt he ever will be. He doesnt have it in him.

Crosby is not a leader. I doubt he ever will be. He doesnt have it in him.
- Iggysbff

So isn't it mind blowing that so many people whined about him needing to be the Canadian captain?

How does no one see this? He is a far more talented Marchand.

Does anyone have that bald turd pierre McGuire's and that rambling old fart doc emrick's Email address?

We should send this as soon as possible so that maybe they become a little more educated on the obvious.

I just hope Pierre would have the time to read it, as I would imagine he has been working non stop on his knees trying to comfort these spoiled little bit ches!
- JIwasinskiJr

Whoa, whoa, whoa... let's be real here.



Most of the time he spends on his knees is right in front of Ed Olczyk. "Right Edzo? You like that Edzo?"

Whoa, whoa, whoa... let's be real here.



Most of the time he spends on his knees is right in front of Ed Olczk. "Right Edzo? You like that Edzo?"
- PancakesPenner

How is he still there....between the glass.....blowing the stars......asking, as you have mentioned, if he is correct about some miserably foolish statement.

So isn't it mind blowing that so many people whined about him needing to be the Canadian captain?

How does no one see this? He is a far more talented Marchand.
- JIwasinskiJr

He wore the C. But in no way, shape or form the Leader of that team. He doesnt have "it". So why do they try to keep forcing it on him. Just let him be a player and one of the real leaders worry about wearing a C.

He wore the C. But in no way, shape or form the Leader of that team. He doesnt have "it". So why do they try to keep forcing it on him. Just let him be a player and one of the real leaders worry about wearing a C.
- Iggysbff

I agree. I just don't understand why people can't see it.

I mean, Toews, getzlaf, bergeron, weber, etc. How was he even an alternate never mind the captain?

On a somewhat related matter....

Why is it there is so little fighting in the playoffs this year? It seems like there are a gazillion whistles after every play or quick stoppages before people can drop the gloves and go at it. I wonder if there would be less spearing and some of the other cheap shots taken this year if the person who did it knew someone would be coming to enforce a little discipline?

I know the NHL sent out a memo saying they would not tolerate stuff after the whistle in the playoffs, but it seems like they are letting lots of stuff go except for fighting.

Its funny because if you ask any player that ever played with him, including team Canada and Coach Mike Babcock they all say hes a great leader. Nice speculating though.

Its funny because if you ask any player that ever played with him, including team Canada and Coach Mike Babcock they all say hes a great leader. Nice speculating though.
- Grinder47

Yeah, your probably right.

Stupid eyes. I have to stop using them and believing what I see and simply believe what his fans tell me.

On a somewhat related matter....

Why is it there is so little fighting in the playoffs this year? It seems like there are a gazillion whistles after every play or quick stoppages before people can drop the gloves and go at it. I wonder if there would be less spearing and some of the other cheap shots taken this year if the person who did it knew someone would be coming to enforce a little discipline?

I know the NHL sent out a memo saying they would not tolerate stuff after the whistle in the playoffs, but it seems like they are letting lots of stuff go except for fighting.
- jkumpire

I don't get it either. Your right thou. A lot of B.S. that may be taken care of with an ass beating one way or the other.

Does anyone have that bald turd pierre McGuire's and that rambling old fart doc emrick's Email address?

We should send this as soon as possible so that maybe they become a little more educated on the obvious.

I just hope Pierre would have the time to read it, as I would imagine he has been working non stop on his knees trying to comfort these spoiled little bit ches!
- JIwasinskiJr

Because clearly the NBC broadcast team didnt spend two straight games gushing and openly rooting for Marty St. Louis and the NY Rangers....

Because clearly the NBC broadcast team didnt spend two straight games gushing and openly rooting for Marty St. Louis and the NY Rangers....
- Amanion

That's the point sir.

He is so over the top with all the "stars" it is pathetic.

Its funny because if you ask any player that ever played with him, including team Canada and Coach Mike Babcock they all say hes a great leader. Nice speculating though.
- Grinder47

Follow the propaganda. They say what they are told to say. If not, they get fined. Capish?

And that's why the Blackhawks are very happy with J. Toews as their captain, even though most don't consider him the 'best player in the world'.

On a somewhat related matter....

Why is it there is so little fighting in the playoffs this year? It seems like there are a gazillion whistles after every play or quick stoppages before people can drop the gloves and go at it. I wonder if there would be less spearing and some of the other cheap shots taken this year if the person who did it knew someone would be coming to enforce a little discipline?

I know the NHL sent out a memo saying they would not tolerate stuff after the whistle in the playoffs, but it seems like they are letting lots of stuff go except for fighting.
- jkumpire

Because the Flyers and Penguins didn't meet, that's why

So isn't it mind blowing that so many people whined about him needing to be the Canadian captain?

How does no one see this? He is a far more talented Marchand.
- JIwasinskiJr

This doesnt do Marchand justice....He actually shows up in the post season