Sidney Crosby vs. Mario Lemieux: Comparing Pittsburgh's Saviors

It's a comparison that began even before Sidney Crosby's name was called first overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

Sidney Crosby vs. Mario Lemieux.

The Next One vs. the Magnificent One.

These are two different players that excelled in two different times of hockey, yet together, they represent the best Pittsburgh has to offer not just in hockey, but all Pittsburgh sports.

They happen to be the reason why the Penguins were able to keep their home in Pittsburgh.

They also happen to be a lot of fun to watch on the ice.

After record breaking junior seasons, Lemieux was the highly-tooted number one draft pick in 1984 and found himself in the dying franchise of Pittsburgh.

At the time, the bankrupt Penguins were averaging roughly 7,000 fans per game at the Civic Arena. This was less than half capacity.

But when Lemieux scored on his first shot of his first shift in his first NHL game against the Boston Bruins, the people of Pittsburgh could see that they were watching someone special.

Lemieux ended his rookie season with a Calder Trophy for Rookie of the Year, after setting a franchise rookie record 100 points, a record he would hold for 11 years until another star player came into the picture.

A young phenom who was breaking records in junior while living up to the hype: Sidney Crosby.

Following the 2004-2005 lockout, Crosby entered the NHL with the weight of the dying Penguins organization, comparisons to Wayne Gretzky and Lemieux, and the NHL on his shoulders.

Crosby, like Lemieux, did not disappoint, finishing the season with 102 points. Although Crosby lost the Calder race to Washington Capitals rival Alex Ovechkin, Pittsburgh was assured that a star had found his home in Pittsburgh and it didn't take long before Penguins tickets were the hottest tickets in town.

Unfortunately, Crosby and the skill of other young talents like Evgeni Malkin, Marc-Andre Fleury, and Jordan Staal were not enough for the whithering organization. Plans to sell the team were in full swing until March 2007, when owner Lemieux announced before a home game that a deal to keep the Pens in Pittsburgh had been made.

Thanks could be attributed to both Lemieux, for putting constant pressure until a deal was made, and Crosby, whose unprecedented work ethic and skill made him the leader of the reborn franchise.

Lemieux and Crosby were undoubtedly the saviors of hockey in Pittsburgh two different times.

The fact that they were good was an added bonus. A huge bonus at that.

Standing at a towering six feet four inches, Lemieux's game was as big and versatile as his body.

He could beat a goalie from a long distance wrister or deflection outside of the crease. He could zip right past a defender or physically beat him in a battle in the corner. He could out-deke, out-smart, and out-work any opposing player, usually making them look downright silly.

Lemieux was King Midas when he touched the puck, especially when he played on a nightmare line with Ron Francis and Jaromir Jagr.

Upon entering the NHL, Crosby had demonstrated a similar yet unique ability that was driven by his work ethic rather than any physical strength or skill.

Scouts couldn't get enough of Crosby's lower body strength that allowed for strong first and second strides and impeccable power in maintaining puck possession. Known as a playmaker, Crosby lived up to the title his first few seasons until he began to focus on the "weaknesses" of his game, such as shooting, faceoffs, and shootouts.

Following a season that included his first Rocket Richard Trophy, Crosby led the league in faceoffs won (1001 out of 1791 for 55.9 percent) and shootout conversion (eight out of 10 for 80 percent).

Although both Lemieux and Crosby have enjoyed their fair share of success, it wasn't all fun and games for the two superstars.

In the 1990-1991 season, Lemieux suffered a back injury that developed into an infected herniated disc, the pain so excruciating that Lemieux sometimes couldn't lace his own skates. Subsequently, he missed 50 games in the following season yet was still able to come back and lead the league in points in the playoffs and bring home Pittsburgh's first Stanley Cup.

Lemieux's tribulations didn't stop there.

In the midst of a possible record-breaking 1992-1993 season, Lemieux was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. He immediately underwent aggressive radiation treatment that left his body and spirit weak.

Missing two months of the season, Lemieux made a comeback after his final treatment of radiation, flying cross-state to play the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Pens lost the game 5-4 but Lemieux netted a goal and an assist, warranting a standing ovation from the usually hostile Philadelphia crowd.

Those who understand the hatred between the two teams and fan bases know how much meaning was behind this gesture.

Lemieux's ups and downs continued, putting him in and out of retirement for multiple health purposes until he announced his permanent retirement on January 24, 2006, halfway through Crosby's first season in the NHL.

Crosby dealt with a different kind of hardship as he entered the NHL, one that was as much out of his control as Lemieux's cancer.

The media.

Gretzky himself once commented that Crosby would be the player to break his records . The comment came when Crosby was only 16.

On a kid who already felt the pressure of success as a 13-year-old, hearing those words from one of the greatest players to play the game amplified whatever pressure he felt.

There were mixed reviews concerning Gretzky's statement: How could he predict a kid will break his records?

Eric Lindros, anyone?

The Pittsburgh faithful could only hope that Crosby delivered, and he did, but not without negative speculation.

Crosby is the type of player who wears his emotions on his sleeve. Add that with the immense pressure to succeed, and Crosby was dubbed a "whiner" and "crybaby."

Some faithful Pittsburgh fans will agree that Crosby demonstrated some immaturity in his rookie season while some will vehemently disagree, claiming it was blown out of proportion.

It does go without saying that wherever Crosby was, be it on or off the ice, a camera was not far away, noting his every word and eyebrow raise.

To say that Crosby receives more international attention, thanks to modern technology, than Gretzky and Lemieux combined, would be an understatement.

Yet despite the expectations and criticism, Crosby has done nothing but shine in his past five seasons in the NHL, highlighted by winning his first Stanley Cup at the ripe age of 21, younger than both Gretzky and Lemieux when they won their first Cups.

In the end, the comparisons between Lemieux and Crosby halt at the notion that Crosby has only played five NHL seasons.

The most accurate comparisons can occur in 12 years when Crosby reaches the 17 season mark that was Lemieux's last.

But even the most optimistic Crosby fan is hesitant to think that he will surpass Lemieux's numbers now that the game of hockey is so different.

Even if Crosby were to break some of Lemieux's records, it would take much more for Crosby to steal Pittsburgh's heart the way Lemieux did.

Looking at what Lemieux endured throughout his NHL tenure and all that he has given to the city of Pittsburgh, he is a very special human being.

And Crosby, who has also given Pittsburgh glorious moments and immeasurable time for benefits and charity, is not far behind him.

The best part about this is that the comparisons between the two don't matter because they both wear the black and gold. Fans of Pittsburgh should be grateful that we have been blessed with the likes of Lemieux and Crosby.

Our Saviors.