I definitely do especially since he thinks Crosby is the best NHL player right now!! NHL.com recently interviewed Mark Messier via telephone and the one thing that did catch my eye was this:
NHL.com: Putting you on the spot now, who do you think is the best player in today's game?
MM: I believe it is Sidney Crosby. Everybody has their own styles and likes and dislikes, but for me the first time I saw him play you could see he was something special. He plays with a lot of courage and in all the tough areas on the ice. He's tremendously skilled and uses the people around him unbelievably well. Not only is he an excellent playmaker, but he scores the goals, too.
- B/R Ticket Guide
MARK MESSIER could see Sidney was something special! Which is obviously why he chose him to receive the Mark Messier Leadership Award at the start of last year's All-Star game in Dallas. Messier is not the only elite NHL player to speak so highly of Sidney. Here are just a few of the others:
New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur said one thing that impresses him about Crosby is his leadership on the ice. "You can tell when he talks out there," Brodeur said. "I'm right around him, and I hear him a lot." Asked to expand, Brodeur said the level of communication rises when Crosby's on the ice. "You can hear at faceoffs, he's setting up guys and doing a lot of different things that sometimes young guys don't even think about," Brodeur said. "They're just worried about winning the face-off. He's thinking about winning his faceoff and doing the things to get the other players to have a chance to be able to play with him."
"To see how he absorbs the attention and handles himself and genuinely wants to sell the game," Olczyk said, "it's quite special to see. He's the best player in the game, but he's an unbelievable kid, too, who knows who he is and where he wants to get to.
"He's just a solid person. Between the ears and inside the chest, he's a special guy."
New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur said one thing that impresses him about Crosby is his leadership on the ice. "You can tell when he talks out there," Brodeur said. "I'm right around him, and I hear him a lot." Asked to expand, Brodeur said the level of communication rises when Crosby's on the ice. "You can hear at faceoffs, he's setting up guys and doing a lot of different things that sometimes young guys don't even think about," Brodeur said. "They're just worried about winning the face-off. He's thinking about winning his faceoff and doing the things to get the other players to have a chance to be able to play with him."
"To see how he absorbs the attention and handles himself and genuinely wants to sell the game," Olczyk said, "it's quite special to see. He's the best player in the game, but he's an unbelievable kid, too, who knows who he is and where he wants to get to."He's just a solid person. Between the ears and inside the chest, he's a special guy."
When asked by The Arizona Republic if a player might one day break some of his NHL scoring records, Gretzky said, "Yes, Sidney Crosby. He's the best player I've seen since Mario [Lemieux]."
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4 months ago
Not that I disagree with your opinion, but is the fact that you 'agree' with Messier the only reason you "value" his opinion? Many of the greats think Crosby is the best. Undeniably because they know the game, and today he IS the best. But, your article only sites one of Messier's opinions... and the title suggests you had more basis for your question. I, personally, certainly value his opinion. However, it's due to many of the other things he has to say about Hockey in general and his expertise regarding play analysis... not just one obvious statement made about Sidney Crosby.
4 months ago
I thought I did site more than one reason I value Messier's opinion (and honestly, it was a tongue-in-cheek thing)! The article is about Crosby (and indirectly about the debate on whether or not he's the best player -- so why not take it from an elite player that he IS the best player?!). I included Messier's opinion AND I included the fact that he awared Crosby with his Mark Messier's Leadership Award in 2007 (which was PRIOR to his making the comments about him). If you don't disagree then why are you asking me the question - are you suggesting I don't know about hockey because I would beg to differ with you!! Granted, I may not have a vast knowledge of other teams / players (although I do think I have some knowledge of them), I know alot more than people would expect a woman to know - I keep very up-to-date on the Penguins (ask my husband - we talk hockey for HOURS)!!!
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