Ought to We Doubt Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin?

Whereas everyone seems to be discussing Jeremy Swayman and his contract dispute with the Boson Bruins, the NHL Community and TSN are at present placing out their Prime 50 Gamers Checklist within the NHL. The large story is that Alex Ovechkin shouldn’t be within the Prime 50 for TSN, however Sidney Crosby is out of the Prime 10.

Each gamers are getting older. Crosby is 37 happening 38, whereas Ovechkin is 39 heading into his 40s. Remarkably, each gamers are nonetheless close to the highest of their video games. Crosby is greater than Ovechkin, however Crosby is a unique participant from Ovechkin.

Sidney Crosby is Committed To Winning in Pittsburgh

Sidney Crosby is an offensively gifted heart who is aware of tips on how to be accountable. Every offseason, he seems to enhance an space of his recreation. Many thought Crosby was going to go away Pittsburgh to chase a Stanley Cup, and that was not going to occur. He signed a two-year contract extension to stick with the one membership he is aware of.

Final season with the Penguins, Crosby put up 94 factors (42 objectives and 52 assists) as his workforce missed the playoffs for the second straight season. That pattern might proceed into this season for the Penguins as properly.

Pittsburgh Penguins Still a Work in Progress Even With Sidney Crosby Extension

Nonetheless, many surprise if Sidney Crosby can nonetheless sustain this tempo. Nicely, former NHL head coach and present analyst on TSN Bruce Boudreau thinks it might be a mistake to doubt him, as he said on SportsCenter with Jay Onrait. 

Bruce Boudreau: “ what? It’s onerous to ever doubt him. Yeah, that’s what my fear is, I don’t suppose the Penguins are any higher and, he doesn’t have Guentzel on his left aspect. However I imply, if he might duplicate 90 factors with the workforce they’ve acquired, and the way in which he did it. Have a look at the primary half of the yr; their energy play was about as abysmal as you may get an influence play within the NHL.

In the event you have a look at all the highest scorers, what number of energy play factors they acquired. You have a look at Sid, what number of even power factors he’s acquired, and so I imply, but when their energy play can take off, he can nonetheless do what he’s doing. I’ve by no means seen a man like him, that’s, I don’t know if this the suitable phrase, conscientious in regards to the recreation, like he trains and he’s acquired that routine down pat, and nothing varies from and I don’t know I’m going by what individuals inform me and what I see myself and after I coached towards him, and the way a lot I hated it as a result of he might beat you single-handedly by his work ethic, not to mention the performs that he could make.

Should Sidney Crosby Pulled a Tom Brady and Is this His Last Contract in the NHL

So I feel he can keep there for an additional yr. Once you get to 37 and 38, it’s powerful to remain there, the way in which the expertise within the NHL is lately, and what number of good younger gamers are developing yearly and displaying them they will do the job. So I hope he does as a result of I feel it’s nice for hockey.”

Then there’s Alex Ovechkin, who’s closing in on Wayne Gretzky‘s purpose report. Ovechkin is 42 objectives away from the report. He didn’t have an ideal begin final season however turned it on after the All-Star recreation. He completed the season after a horrific star.

As Boudreau notes, if somebody doubts him, he normally will exit and show them improper.

“Alex, that if anyone says you’ll be able to’t do one thing, he’s going to attempt to show you improper,” Boudreau mentioned. “It’s similar to like, if you happen to can bear in mind him, if different coaches, when he was youthful, and mentioned, hey, simply hit him. Hit him and hit him to sluggish him down, he’d go, oh, yeah, you’re going to hit me. I’m going to hit you more durable to make you not need to hit me. And I feel that’s the angle he’s going to convey into the season.”

Is it unimaginable to suppose 42 objectives shouldn’t be out of the query? With Ovechkin, you’ll be able to by no means doubt him. However it may be powerful. Nonetheless, 35 objectives may very well be within the playing cards for Ovechkin.

Will Alex Ovechkin Break Wayne Gretzky’s Goal Record This Season?

“I imply, I don’t know if 42 is within the playing cards, however I’d, I’d wager 35 plus shouldn’t be, shouldn’t be out of the realm of risk,” Boudreau mentioned. “And once more, lots will depend on the facility play. The caps Energy Play wasn’t nearly as good as they want it, and so they made a complete bunch of modifications they acquired.”

However as we enter the 2024-25 NHL Season, don’t put it previous Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin going out and having top-notch seasons.