Stars Want Crosby Back

 

Ever since Sidney Crosby was a teen growing up in Nova Scotia, he was deemed “The Golden Boy” or “The Next One.” Titles such as these have kept Crosby in the headlines for years. Now with hockey fans across the world wondering about Crosby’s health, his name is again in the headlines, just not for the right reasons. Crosby’s agent Pat Brisson released a statement saying he would comment on his condition at the “appropriate time” after having rumors swirling about Crosby cancelling workouts and suffering another setback. Having the biggest face of the NHL possibly unable to return to the lineup in the near future will impact not only the Penguins, but also the league in general. As a Penguin fan, I know how important it is for Sidney to return to the lineup, since last year’s playoff series against the Lightning was a perfect representation of how much he means to our team. As a hockey fan in general, I know that the NHL will lose a lot if the face of their league is unable to return.

Over the past week, stars such as the Lightning’s Steven Stamkos have been quoted as saying how important Crosby’s comeback is to the league. Stamkos says that many things would be taken away from the league if Crosby is unable to return. He also emphasizes the impact concussions have had with not only Crosby, but the rest of the league. “As a fellow player in the league, you want to prevent that sort of thing” Stamkos tells TSN. Stamkos goes on to say how he believes fans and the league shouldn’t rush Crosby because he will return when he is ready. Even Anaheim Duck center Andrew Cogliano addressed Crosby’s importance to the game. He also tells TSN, “Sidney’s a great player, he’s a great ambassador for the game.”

Sorting out the rumors of whether Sidney has actually had setbacks this summer or whether he is indeed continuing to progress is hard to do. With networks reporting they have multiple sources that say Crosby will be unable to start training camp on September 17th, the only thing we as fans can do is wait. The puck drop on October 6th in Vancouver is still weeks away. Hopefully in the next couple of months instead of worrying about the severity of Crosby’s symptoms, we can worry about the Penguins power-play problems even with Crosby and Malkin back and healthy.

Matt Cooke: “It’s possible to change.”

Matt Cooke is ready for a new look--though that blue is very nice on him. (Getty Images)

Though we use “Cookie Monster” as a term of endearment for our favorite gap-toothed forward (Sorry, Ovi), Jordan Staal is quick to assure that Matt Cooke “is not a monster like some people think.” Nevertheless, the 2010-11 season brought a lot of attention to Cooke, and it wasn’t for his charity work. Even devoted Penguins fans were having difficulty stepping up to defend Cooke’s on-ice actions. After two suspensions, including one that ended his season in March, #24 had earned a reputation as one of the dirtiest players in the NHL.

Penguins GM Ray Shero made it perfectly clear that he, as well as the Penguins coaching staff, had discussed the offenses with Cooke at length (can you imagine a roasting from Tony Granato? I, personally, would rather not). While this certainly gave Cooke a clue about his precarious status with the team, it was his wife and children that made him realize something still needed to change. “I can take it,” he told Rob Rossi.  “I go back to, ‘Sticks and stones…’ but names — hey, your kids hear the names.”

This summer, Cooke trained just as hard as his teammates in order to help the Penguins recover from an all-too-early playoff exit. Yet, when he left the rink or the gym, he was doing something his teammates weren’t: studying hours and hours of footage; learning how to hit more safely and effectively. According to Cooke, he viewed over 20 hours of video this summer, and plans on utilizing every minute of it to be the best player he can.

Call me an optimist, but I don’t think this is a promise that will remain unfulfilled. Come October, I plan on dusting off my Matt Cooke t-shirt and representing number 24 with pride!

Sidney Crosby is out for the season! Wait, maybe not!

It isn’t an exaggeration to say that most hockey fans have been watching and listening to how Sidney Crosby has been doing this off season. The captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins has been out since early January with a concussion after being hit in the head twice in back to back games and reports from everyone and their mothers have been saying different things.

Summer Review

Although August has just begun, hockey fans’ minds are on the upcoming season. One of Penguin fans biggest questions this off-season are Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin’s health. Missing arguably two of the top players in the world, seriously hurt the team in the playoffs. But learning what the team could do (and couldn’t do) without them in the 2nd half of the season probably impacted the off-season signings.

Even though Ray Shero was not one of the more active GMs at July 1st(compared to teams like the Flyers), bringing in a player such as Steve Sullivan could make a quiet impact on the team. Bringing a speedy player like Sullivan on a line with Crosby could result in high offensive numbers.

Speaking of the Flyers, many fans now have December 29th circled on their calendar. The home game marks the arrival of former Pens, Jaromir Jagr and Max Talbot. It should be interesting to see the fan-reaction (probably boos and some other choice words) and also how HBO shows the matchup. Although Jagr Watch is most definitely over, the Penguins have shown that they would rather give current players a chance to make the roster then spending a couple million on a player whose role on the team might only last a year or two at the most.

Shero seems to lean on the importance of young, upcoming players like Dustin Jeffrey and Eric Tangradi. A healthy Jeffrey and a now twitterless Tangradi (tears were shed) could be used to give some youth to this season’s roster. It should be interesting to see how the remodel of the Flyers roster, a healthy and newly resigned Zach Parise for the Devils, and a new star center with the Rangers impacts the rest of the Atlantic Division.

As the calendar turns, we are getting much closer to the season and hopeful closer to answering some of our questions.

Crosby Status Still Unknown

Will He Be Ready For Camp?

Yesterday, Ray Shero spoke with media about Crosby’s progress over the summer. It’s still not 100% certain that he will be ready to go by training camp but Shero said that he is progressing and will be re-evaluated at the beginning of camp.

Crosby has maintained his summer workout schedule, including on and off-ice workouts, with little concussion side effects — though there were some that is to be expected with this type of injury. Chances do look good that Sid will be ready to go come September.

Shero knows that long-term health is better than having Crosby back sooner than he should; “I want to make sure a year from now, three years from now, five years from now that he’s still the best player in the league and take the appropriate steps and back him, and go from there.”

If missing out on another portion of the upcoming season means the Pens will have Sidney in the lineup for years to come it may not be the end of the world.

Happy Birthday Sidney Crosby!

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 87!

 

Pens Sign Joseph Morrow

Source: http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/13168/whl2011_draft_review/

According to Pittsburghpenguins.com, Ray Shero has signed Joseph Morrow to a 3 year entry level contract. The newly drafted defensemen’s newly minted contract won’t begin for another year or two as he will be back with his junior team, the Portland Winterhawks, for the upcoming season.

The Edmonton, Alberta native is slated to become a member of this year’s World Juniors team for Canada with a good performance at this fall’s selection camp. Morrow is pretty much a shoe-in based on his performance in the WHL last year and will surely make his hometown proud as the tournament will be hosted by both Edmonton and Calgary.

The 18 year old was selected 23rd overall at this year’s NHL entry draft.