Can Crosby Bring the Pittsburgh Penguins Back to the Playoffs?
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The name Sidney Crosby means a lot of different things for many people. It could mean a three-time Stanley Cup champion. It could also mean a 10-time All-Star, or a three-time MVP winner. Perhaps, it could also mean that this is a player who obliterates the majority of the teams in the NHL, leaving him as one of the most hated players in the league.
Putting views aside, everybody can agree that Sidney Crosby is nothing short of the greatest player that this generation has ever seen. However, many would probably be under the assumption that having one of the best players of all time on your roster, would mean that your team is very good. To simply put it; the Pittsburgh Penguins are not. As of the All-Star break, the team holds a fifth place spot in the Metropolitan Division, with a record of 22-17-7. While the Penguins are currently out of the playoff picture, they are not far from getting back in it. Being just five points behind third place, Pittsburgh is going to have to give it their all as soon as they come back from their break. This all starts with Crosby.
Through 46 games this season, Sidney Crosby is already up to 50 points (27 goals, 23 assists). This puts the 36-year-old in the top 25 point getters in the NHL; an insane thing to even think about. While the Penguins have not found much success this season, Crosby is one of their only bright spots, even though he’s not getting any younger. The team for that matter, is statistically the oldest in the league, with the average age being 31.8. Pittsburgh lacks a lot of youth in their lineup, as Crosby is the one that the team looks toward in tough situations. The pressure that he has on him and his age can all point towards the fact that the Penguins are in a position that they don’t want to be in at the moment.
Another thing that doesn’t help Crosby out, is that the team lacks goal scoring. They are just outside the bottom five in goals scored, which is surprising as many people had high hopes for the team this season. Having players like Crosby, Jake Guentzel, and Evgeni Malkin, while acquiring a great scorer like Erik Karlsson, this team was supposed to have one of the better offenses in the NHL. Yet, that hasn’t been the case. Players not named Sidney Crosby have to step up if they want to start winning games.
Trade talks have been linked to Jake Guentzel as the season progresses, which would be a huge blow for the city of Pittsburgh. He is still one of the best wingers in the league and Crosby’s favorite linemate. Trading him away would maybe signal to the rest of the league that the Penguins are beginning a rebuild, which cannot happen while Crosby is still on the team. That would mean that for the rest of his career, one of the best hockey players of all time, would not be competing for another Stanley Cup. He has said that he wants to be a Penguin forever, so starting a rebuild while he is actively the reason that the team continues to sneak into the playoffs seems odd to a lot of people.
Photo Credit: TribLive
Whether or not a Guentzel trade happens, the hockey world will be looking for vintage Sidney Crosby if the Penguins have any hopes of making the playoffs this season.