Penguins/NHL
Sidney Crosby showing signs of 2010-2011 Sidney Crosby
Starting with the World Cup, what the hockey world is seeing from Sidney Crosby right now is the Sidney Crosby 2010-2011 season version of Crosby when the Penguins captain was on just another level and playing at the highest level of his career in a season that was unfortunately cut short due to a concussion.
Crosby averaged a career high 1.61 points per game in 41 games but it was his goal scoring prowess that had Crosby putting on an assault on the rest of the NHL. Crosby averaged 0.78 goals per game in 10-11 and he’s never been able to regain that type of goal scoring ability that had him looking like a 60 goal a season player.
Crosby’s goals per game over the previous five seasons dropped to 0.36, 0.42, 0.45, 0.36, 0.45 and he hasn’t topped more than 36 goals in a season since 2009-2010.
That elite goal scoring ability Crosby showed in 2010-2011 has looked to be nothing more than a mirage until now where Crosby has exploded with 8 goals in his first six games.
And it’s not just that the puck is going into the net for him at a 1.33 G/G rate, which obviously isn’t sustainable. While just a six game sample, the velocity, and confidence Crosby has in his shot looks back on that 10-11 season elite level and the quickness he’s getting off his shot in high danger areas has been a minor tweak Crosby has made and it’s paying dividends. That’s quite the scary combination for the rest of the league when you combine Crosby’s 200 ft game has never been better.
On the Hagelin – Crosby – Hornqvist Line & Trickle Down Effect
The HBK line was a major reason the Penguins won the Stanley Cup last post-season but more likely than not, it was just a fad that doesn’t have long-term success.
At some point the best direction for the Penguins was always going to be Carl Hagelin and Phil Kessel playing with one of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
We’re seeing a trickle down effect now with the Penguins starting to find their best lines 1-4.
The Hagelin – Crosby – Hornqvist line has great potential to stick this season.
In the past there’s been some rumblings that Sidney Crosby didn’t like to play with Patric Hornqvist and was sometimes frustrated with Hornqvist dumping the puck in on clear opportunities where an offensive zone entry was there.
The two have butted heads at times. However, winning cures all and the two are becoming excellent fits together in the space Hornqvist creates in around the net and his ability to win puck battles.
Hornqvist is also much improved in being able to get the puck to Crosby in the neutral zone with speed that was often a staple of the Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis line when they were at their best years ago.
Meanwhile, Hagelin has added a really interesting dynamic to the line.
His game in particular needed jump started and the move to Crosby’s line has done it.
When the Penguins had internal discussions last December about acquiring Hagelin when Anaheim made it known around the league they were trying to move his salary, it wasn’t just the speed factor for Hagelin that drew the Penguins to Hagelin.
Some in the organization also saw him as a [hide] Pascal Dupuis type to fit with Crosby long-term.
He’s not as good of a passer that Chris Kunitz always was in being able to find Crosby off the breakout, but Hagelin creates a ton of space through the neutral zone with his speed to back off the opposition and his ability to create chaos on puck battles is going to open things up for Crosby in the slot which we’re already seeing.
Defenders are being forced to play the Crosby line deep and not in tight at the blueline.
In a way, Crosby looks to have found his Kunitz’ and Dupuis’ from when both of those respective players were in their primes, with Hagelin being Dupuis and Hornqvist being Kunitz.
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Aaron Donald is a beast. Wasted in LA.
Looks like ill win my fantasy football week. Thank GOD im not playing Jake Tapper!
Sounds like I really struck a chord with this tapper comment. He must be your fave. Which surprises nobody.
Struck a chord, or opened the door to allow me to point out your dumbassery?
Me: “Dept of National intelligence confirms Russia meddling in US election”
You: “So is Jake Tapper!”
Im concerned for your mental health after such a Sam-like argument.
Yep. Thats how that conversation went. You’re the absolute best 😉
I guess I missed your true rebuttal. Which was….. ??
Rebuttal? You fabricated the entire exchange. The two comments had nothing to do with one another. But hey keep with it. not doing so would be atypical of someone on the left.
If “Cronkite was still in the chair instead of Jake ******* Tapper, he’d have 70% of the vote”
Jake Tapper! Hahahahahaha!
But you said it was in response to your Russia comment? And you know damn well that was a metaphor. Or maybe you don’t. You think I meant one guy! One specific guy! Come on yoda. You’re better than that.
NPL, what makes you so confident the election is over Shouldn’t you be out provoking violence at Trump events.
Samchion, must feel good having Maloni on your side here. What validity he adds!
Nlpples, think you’ll be the only gay, black non hockey fan on Hillary’s staff?
Hope not. Turning straights while watching hockey can be exhausting.
Dude, don’t sell yourself short. You’re one of a kind. Who are your parents voting for?
Every blind squirrel finds a nut NPL. Look at you. You’re normally pretty bright. Until you try to tell everyone that an establishment corrupt pay for play career hack makes sense. I get you not liking trump. I don’t know how you justify that twat.
Tells us more about the Russian – FBI conspiracy.
Its all right here, courtesy of the Department of National Intelligence and Homeland Security:
https://www.dni.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/215-press-releases-2016/1423-joint-dhs-odni-election-security-statement
A government press release. Really? Surely Jake Tapper’s got better sources.
Doubt it. Hes no Cronkite!
So the Russians couldn’t expose Hillary so the FBI picked up the ball … is that how the story goes?
I wonder if Geno is a Putin plant….
Youve blamed Geno, Gorbachev, and Jake Tapper while not offering a single fact. #SamchionKnew
Do you think Jake tapper is Russian?
Your president encouraged illegals to vote today. Has to make you proud.
He actually encouraged voter eligible citizens who have undocumented family members to vote. Read a little, youre looking very stupid Samchion.
Haha! So good. More npl. More!
Thats unsurprisingly illogical. Jake Tapper is the one man wrecking crew taking down the Great Orange Hope. Russia is trying to keep him afloat. How would that work? #SamchionKnew
Well I said chuck Todd too. And “not to stop there” but you read about as well as your boy samwich
Samchion, you know you added Chuck Todd to the conversation to soften your “Jake Tapper ruins everything” little white tween aged girl tantrum.
Haha. Right. I meant Jake tapper. And Jake tapper alone. You’re a loon.
If im a loon, give me some facts to right the ship. Did the USIC confirm Jake Tapper is meddling in the US election? Because they did with Russia. Check it out: https://www.dni.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/215-press-releases-2016/1423-joint-dhs-odni-election-security-statement
Point to where I said he was “meddling” in anything. I’ll wait. I do like how you just run with it though. It’s impressive.
I don’t get why Russia would want to help trump. He’s American. And America is their enemy. A man is your enemy you show him no mercy. As the great John Kreese once said.
Because hes an idiot who can be manipulated. Whats with the softball questions?
Yes. Weak willed. That describes Donald trump. No way you can manipulate Hillary, who has a price for everything. Russia!
Weak willed: lacking the ability to resist influence or to restrain one’s own impulses
Lol that absolutely describes the Orange. Go to his Twitter page. Hes the definition of weak willed.
What are you saying then. He just doesn’t charge for it like she does?
Haha yes! The difference between the two is the Great Orange Trumpkin isnt influenced by money. Youre nailing this, Samchion. Watch out Jake Tapper!
Man. You reach on every one of these. You’re like yoda. So good. More!
How is it a reach? For once, explain.
Since were all thinking it, lets go ahead and blame this one on Jake Tapper.
Let’s go with Gorbachev. He’s after us.
#FatLivesMatter
Steelers not prepared to play. Shocking.
God dammit Jake Tapper.
You’re off script. It’s the FBI.
And the Russians. Our enemy. Npl is still shocked that the red army team didn’t win the World Cup a month ago.
lol well, dont I look silly! Putin loves America! Jake Tapper tho… watch out for that guy.
you prefer chuck Todd? I love how on board you are with hillarys modern day McCarthyism
Is that better than being on board with Trumps modern day Samism?
For example: I say “Dept of National Intelligence and Homeland Security confirm Russia is meddling in the election.”
You say: “But Jake Tapper is a jerk!”
Russia. Our enemy! Anything you can do to get people to look the other way while your girl takes millions from our real enemy 😉
The Russians are coming, the Russians are coming.
Big Overrated. Hard to believe Ben is off target. Dude is picture of consistency.
Yeah, he sucks.
Doesn’t suck. Just completely Overrated.
Must be an American thing
Shouldn’t you be combing out your back?
Npl’s boy Mike Mitchell is having a banner day.
I blame Jake Tapper
i mean. Don’t stop there.
Mitchell is a piece of shit. But the Russians and FBI are conspiring against him.
RIP Marek Svatos
Hey stain how Is sid doing with less games played then your Russian tourist in points production. Only section the Russian has a big lead is the penalty department but that is the case every year and expected by him because he is dumb. But in your books plays with passion
I know. It’s weird. Like the opposite of last year when he spent October through December braiding your back hair.
Sid is going to the net. In the past few years he would do nothing but pull up on the boards and try to hit the trailer coming into the zone. Give credit to coach Sullivan.
Why give Sullivan the credit? We have no clue what impact Sullivan actually had on Crosby’s willingness to drive the net, Crosby was well aware of the issue before Sullivan took over and talked about it several times with Madden, it’s possible that Sullivan impacted the change but it’s also possible that Sid made the change on his own since he’s well known to be a very self-aware player that puts in the extra work to correct what he perceives as flaws in his game.
Did the box score tell you that? Joke! Fraud!