Sidney Crosby Remains Injured, Penguins Prove They Don't Need Him

Arguably the most polarizing player in the NHL, Sidney Crosby has racked up an impressive list of achievements in a short time.

Love him or hate him, the man knows how to play hockey.

He gets a bad reputation for diving and complaining at times, but his skill level is hard to ignore.

As with most extremely talented hockey players, fans began to build Sid the Kid up as the rock, the winning power of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

At this point in the season, fans should realize that is not the case.

As almost every hockey fan, and some non-hockey fans, may know, Sidney Crosby missed a great deal of last season and the current NHL season with post-concussion symptoms rendering him unable to compete.

While the loss of Crosby seemed so difficult to handle, as if the Penguins wouldn't be successful until he returned, one man stepped up big time.

Evgeni Malkin.

Currently leading the NHL with 58 points, 26 of those being goals and 32 being assists, Malkin has proven his worth to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Malkin has been a talented player in the past, overshadowed a bit by Crosby and his cult-like following.

With Crosby out indefinitely, Malkin has had the chance to show the NHL that he is for real.

Furthermore, Penguins fans were finally shown something other NHL fans had been telling them for some time now, the Penguins can win without Sidney Crosby.

Sure, Crosby is a talented player, and even though I'm not a huge fan of his, I genuinely hope he has a speedy recovery and returns to his previous playing ability.

All I'm saying is that, as great as Crosby is, the Penguins can be successful without him.