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 the moment placing out their High 50 Gamers Checklist within the NHL. The massive story is that Alex Ovechkin shouldn’t be within the High 50 for TSN, however Sidney Crosby is out of the High 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 distinct participant from Ovechkin.

Sidney Crosby is Committed To Winning in Pittsburgh

Sidney Crosby is an offensively gifted heart who is aware of the right way to be accountable. Every offseason, he seems to be to enhance an space of his sport. Many thought Crosby was going to depart 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 staff missed the playoffs for the second straight season. That pattern may proceed into this season for the Penguins as effectively.

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

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

Bruce Boudreau: “ what? It’s arduous 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 facet. However I imply, if he may duplicate 90 factors with the staff they’ve bought, and the best way he did it. Take 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 take a look at all the highest scorers, what number of energy play factors they bought. You take a look at Sid, what number of even energy factors he’s bought, 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 correct phrase, conscientious concerning the sport, like he trains and he’s bought that routine down pat, and nothing varies from and I don’t know I’m going by what folks inform me and what I see myself and after I coached in opposition to him, and the way a lot I hated it as a result of he may beat you single-handedly by his work ethic, not to mention the performs that he could make.

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So I feel he can keep there for one more yr. While you get to 37 and 38, it’s powerful to remain there, the best way the expertise within the NHL is nowadays, and what number of good younger gamers are arising yearly and exhibiting them they will do the job. So I hope he does as a result of I feel it’s nice for hockey.”

Then there may be Alex Ovechkin, who’s closing in on Wayne Gretzky‘s aim document. Ovechkin is 42 objectives away from the document. He didn’t have an excellent begin final season however turned it on after the All-Star sport. 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 someone says you may’t do one thing, he’s going to attempt to show you improper,” Boudreau mentioned. “It’s similar to like, in the event you can keep in mind him, if different coaches, when he was youthful, and mentioned, hey, simply hit him. Hit him and hit him to gradual 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 wish to hit me. And I feel that’s the perspective 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 may by no means doubt him. However it may be powerful. Nonetheless, 35 objectives could possibly be within the playing cards for Ovechkin.

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“I imply, I don’t know if 42 is within the playing cards, however I might, I might guess 35 plus shouldn’t be, shouldn’t be out of the realm of chance,” Boudreau mentioned. “And once more, so much is determined by the ability play. The caps Energy Play wasn’t pretty much as good as they want it, they usually made a complete bunch of adjustments they bought.”

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.