In this 10 part series, I will be dissecting ten different careers thus far. The series is fully called “Players Ages 28 and Younger who will end up in the Hall of Fame.” Feel free to argue a selection or the rankings at the end of the series.
“He’s dynamite. He’s the best player I’ve seen since Mario. He’s that good.” –Wayne Gretzky
Sidney Crosby was a straight “A” student in high school, and was an unbelievably nice kid, according to both his parents and his vice-principal. He was then transferred to Shattuck-St Mary’s, a well-known hockey school in Minnesota.
He scored 162 points in 57 games, and immediately made himself eligible for the QMJHL draft. He was taken first overall by the Rimouski Oceanic, and dominated that league, scoring 303 points in just 121 games.
Here is a link of a young Sidney Crosby, about age 14.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neO44K7Awg0
One could clearly see that Sidney Crosby was something special, even early on in his life. He practiced his skills in his basement, shooting pucks into a net and into the dryer. The family dryer is both dented and almost fully black from all of the puck marks from shots that Crosby missed.
Crosby was almost passed over in 2005 because of the NHL lockout, but the NHL made the draft happen, for the main purpose to get Sidney Crosby in the NHL. The Pittsburgh Penguins won the draft lottery that year, getting the rights to draft the young phenom.
Sid the Kid did not waste time in dominating the NHL and its newly played game (The New NHL). He was named to the all-rookie team after scoring 102 points in 81 games, but lost the Calder Trophy to Alexander Ovechkin.
In his sophomore year, he was clearly the best player in the league when he scored 120 points in 79 games. He was then named the Penguins’ youngest captain ever, and the second youngest captain in league history at age 19.
Here is a list of all the awards that Crosby won, from Midget AAA to NHL.
Midget AAA
comments (20) write a comment »
write a new comment
3 months ago
Hmm, I wonder who #1 is?
from 3 months ago
Joni Pitkanen
from 3 months ago
HAHAHA
from 3 months ago
I was thinking Alexandre Picard, but close.
from 3 months ago
alan you didn't say cody bass!! he has ur last name!!
3 months ago
Good read, although I have to respectfully disagree with this ranking. Personally I believe Crosby deserves to be #1 on this list. IMO, he is the best player in the NHL and has proven it the past 2 years. He won the Art Ross, Lester B. Pearson, and Hart Trophy as a 19 year old in 2006-2007, and was on pace to repeat before his high ankle sprain injury. He also lead the Penguins to the Cup finals at a mere 20 years of age, all the while tying for most playoff points at 27 in 20 games. Not to take anything away from Ovechkin, who is a phenomenal player in his own right, but Crosby has achieved more at a younger age, and being 2 years younger, probably has more room for improvement as well. His offensive acumen also somewhat outdoes that of Ovechkin's, seeing as Crosby has a career PPG of 1.38 and Ovechkin a career PPG of 1.28. Nevertheless, Crosby and Ovechkin will dominate the NHL for years to come, but my personal opinion is that based on their careers thus far, Sidney takes a back seat to no one. My ranking would be Crosby (1) and Ovechkin (2).
from 3 months ago
well, you are absolutely entitled to your own opinion, and i respect both the opinion and the fact that you were able to say it civilly, and not freak out like others would. i personally believe that ovechkin is better, hence him eventually being my number one FHOF. but they are both extremely good, and as you said, will dominate the nhl for many years. there is no doubt they will both be in the HoF eventually
from 3 months ago
Oh Alan you gave it away, Lol
from 3 months ago
haha yeah, like no one knew.... did i say ovechkin? i meant radulov
from 3 months ago
I would say that right now Ovechkin is better, but he is older, and he played in a russian legue with men before he came to the nhl, where as Crosby was just playing in the QMJHL with kids. So i say in a couple of years from now, when Crosby gets more experianced, that he will be the better overall player and would become the number 1 future hall of famer! But good read, liked this series.
3 months ago
good article. he def in the hof with out question , unless he gets some serious injury . can't wait to u get to # 1 lol
3 months ago
ovie number one?? i agree
3 months ago
I thought crosby was the youngest captain in NHL history, second youngest. Who was younger?
from 3 months ago
crosby is the youngest permanent captain. brian bellows was an interim captain for the north stars at 19 years and 131 days, which is younger than sid was
3 months ago
I dont think so ALAN, Crosy should have been number 1 on this list not ovechkin, oh and btw he also won the espy in 2008, over ovechkin who won those trophies because sid was hurt.
from 3 months ago
Sid only won the ESPY because he was in the Stanley Cup finals. If Pittsburgh would have ended up bowing out in the first round Ovie would have gotten it, but playoffs is what counts so Sid took advantage of it.
3 months ago
i'd would've gone with crosby as number one as well he has a higher points per game than ovechkin and in head to head match ups crosby has almost always come out on top.
3 months ago
God I love this series Alan. Great job..AO is the right choice for #1
3 months ago
this is the first article i've read in this series (yes i love sid, deal with it lol) but i plan on going back to read the others. this article was great!
from 3 months ago
thanks a lot emily!
write a new comment