What’s wrong with Sidney Crosby? In Today’s NHL, going four games without a point is going to happen to some of the best in the game but even the biggest Crosby supporters can’t deny, he’s not meeting the eye test right now.
Two areas standout right now.
1. He’s not shooting the puck like someone who has great confidence in his shot. Pucks are not lifting off Crosby’s stick and that’s the first sign of a player who has some doubt with his shot unless he is hiding an injury which is not believed to be the case.
Crosby’s ability as a goal scorer has been plunging since the 2011-2012 season after emerging as one of the games premier goal scorers in 09-10, 10-11.
Should high 20’s, low 30 goal seasons be the expectation from now on?
Since 11-12, Crosby has averaged 0.40 goals per game, which averages out to 33 goals over a full season (82 games). A good argument can be made that Crosby and Evgeni Malkin should be more consistent 40+ goal scorers but anything more than 36, 37 goals this season from Crosby can be looked at as exceeding expectations based on his goal production the last four seasons.
2. Some in Crosby’s inner circle last season felt the increased defensive responsibilities led to a down year from Sidney Crosby standards. It’s starting to become an interesting dynamic.
Three straight games with a CF% in the negative at even strength, is there a need for a two-way defensive minded forward to play with Crosby to alleviate some of the increased defensive responsibilities Crosby has endured under Mike Johnston’s system?
Phil Kessel is never going to be someone who plays his own end well and Chris Kunitz isn’t winning a selke anytime soon. Crosby has to do a lot in his own end to cover for those two.
This is where Pascal Dupuis becomes an ideal option if he can stay healthy but Nick Bonino while limited time playing wing in his career, is very intriguing.
Some scouts have felt Bonino could easily transition to wing.
Once Eric Fehr is back, the Penguins will have the flexibility to get creative but right now the pickings are slim as the Penguins have a left wing problem with many of their forwards better on the right side.
As for Fehr, Jim Rutherford mentioned in the summer he felt Eric Fehr could play wing in the top-6. Fehr has been primarily a center and right wing in his career, though, former Capitals coach Adam Oates used Fehr at To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Johnston has final say, but isn’t Rick the guy who does the forward lines? I’ve got a feeling we are seeing why Rick was fired in Tampa Bay.
instead of having a two way defensive minded winger for sid so he can benefit, i think if he would remove his tampon he would benefit as well.
You guys discussing Kessel, you underestimate……He has two anchors tied to him, 87 and 14. And I think that is not helping Sid. Although after watching Sid last night in person. I am willing to bet there is something wrong with his left wrist. There were some body language clues.
Seriously thinking abut traveling from Cali to Pittsburgh so I can hold up a “trade Crosby” sign at a Pens game.
instead of a “trade crosby” sign, you should have a “trade cindy” sign. that would be way cooler.
In the pre-season when I posted that Kessel should play on Malkin’s wing who was it here that attacked me? Dustin maybe. How much longer before “johnson” gives in.
I think they should swap Hornqvist and Kessel for a few games. Kessel is not producing on Sids wing.
Hard for Kessel to produce with that anchor tied to him.
he had so many chances with crosby lol. The goals will come. Its 5 games into the season, relax
Go Royals!
Sid hasn’t been good since Bylsma left. Canadian needs an Americans direction.
The whole team hasn’t been good it’s more like since MT left. BTW how is dB doing with sabres I tough he would fine everywhere he would go
When MT joined Habs they were dead last he transformed the team and made playoffs. While with DB the had a good roster and they still sucks
Yeah – they haven’t been good since MT left – aside from winning the Cup. You fat fuck.
Malkin is awesome and Sam is fat.
Columbus 6 game losing streak ouch. This is going to make the pens-blue jackets much more intense if they have to battle it out for the last playoff spot…
Or the top pick…
Spencer J Warner, moron… This guy supposedly runs an online pens page with the rose glasses on tight. Crosbys an angle And anything otherwise is banish able… Clown
Do you have a link zero? I’d love to see if I could get banned in 3 posts or less.
I would have fired one off to you but I was A: very drunk and didnt follow up here and B: no lonegr able to find the page. Guy is the worst kind of fan… goes hard at you if you say anything that isnt a rosey picture of the current group although as soon as a player is gone they are game for all kinds of hate lol.
Congrats to Malkin who was the best player on the ice yet again.
That Malkin is a machine.
Congratz Mr. Fleury for your 600 game. You see that Yoda. 600 games and all with pens
We’re paying $12 million to a third line center that struggles on face offs. Awesome.
Might as well replace that 8 with a 2, he looks that bad.
I see 87 and think “oh, I thought we traded Brandon Sutter…”
Root Sports is embarrassing.
steigy, potash, errey, and jay caufield all are turds
Let’s get Torts in as the new coach
When are pens going to finally go out and get a center for Phil?
Russian needs to get off from t first power play unit
So before. All he could do is score on the power play. Which was why you wanted him gone. Now, he needs to be off of the power play. I mean do you listen to your fat ass before you hit “post comment” you big tub of goo?
You know what we should keep doing? Bitching about Malkin. You fat French fuck
Go sell some hotdogs you slob
I think you’re the one that needs a new line of business. Your Ali-like streak for being wrong is alive and strong! Fat ass.
Typical malkin penalty when pens are on pp expect that bone head kill momentum
That wasn’t a penalty. It was an awful call. And you’re retarded. And Sid sucks.
Hey clowns was same right again when he said about number 61 when he was on malkin line I said he will be 3Rd line and then 4th line by Christmas I guess it happened sooner the russian was scratched last game and tonight he plays on 4th line. Now where are the clowns that were riding him being the next big winger for him when I said he will be nothing more than a 2.0 version of pesonen
61 just got an assist too. You’re on a roll tonight tubby
Pitt FOOTBALL!!!!!
“Johnson” is putting Geno on Cindy’s line so someone has a shot at winning ozone draws.
All this headache to help Cindy regain his game. Not going to happen. Put Kessel on Malkin’s wing.
Not a fan of malkin being moved to help crosby- thats hilarious in itself. How the might have stumbled.
I agree with DK, Johnson has no idea what to do with the lines.
Ideal lines for next couple games would be sprong crosby hornqvist which takes defensive pressure off crosby and still gives him a shooter, followed by kunitz malkin kessel which gives malkin the net front presence and a sniper.
Taking an 18yo player that is already suspect in his own end at his natural position and switching him to a new position isn’t going to take defensive responsibility of of Crosby, Hornqvist can’t cover for both Sid and Sprong so 1 of those 2 will still have added defensive responsibility and I’ll guarantee you it won’t be Sprong. I dod agree with switching Kessel and Hornqvist though, Kunitz-Crosby-Hornqvist was lights out at the early part of the season last year so I see no reason to not find out if that chemistry is still there. Kunitz-Crosby-Hornqvist, Perron-Malkin-Kessel, Plotnikov-Bonino-Sprong is… Read more »
The reason I put sprong up there was to see what he has. 9 game window let’s see what he does. I was referring to hornqvist as the defensive forward not sprong. Granted at least sprong back checks.
But again how are you going to know what he has by playing him out of position? Might as well give him a shot in the top 4 on defense while they’re at it.
I gave you a thumbs down not because I disagree with you but only because you always sound like a conceited ass hat 🙂
I am a conceited as shat but that doesn’t make me any less right 95+% of the time.
Haha
Who is Johnson?
Don?
Yes because the Crosby Malkin Combo has been so lights out in the past and a much better option than Kessel, a natural wing, has been for Sid? The personnel decisions are puzzling… I am glad to see Sprong FINALLY get some ice after being a positive in only 7 mins a game through the 1st three. It’s just sad we needed an injury to see this.
Malkin – Crosby – Kessel… I’ll take Passes too much and tries to make everything too cute for 500 Alex