Hey trolls, science has you figured out.

http://www.slate.com/arti...rcissism_psychopathy.html

Why is it so hard to play with Crosby? Why haven't any of the other players been able to mesh with him like the other lines seem to be able to?
- AncasterPens

His game thrives on quick passes and doing everything with speed. Hard to work quickly when you don't know exactly where your linemates will be. Also, getting him he puck in the neutral zone with speed is big. That hasn't really happened and when it does teams in this tournament play back defensively, so he can't use his speed to blow by guys.

Also, I remember Hossa saying that he's tough to get used to, because he passes off his backhand more than his forehand. Hossa might be the best all around RW in the NHL, and it took several weeks for him and Crosby to click.

His game thrives on quick passes and doing everything with speed. Hard to work quickly when you don't know exactly where your linemates will be. Also, getting him he puck in the neutral zone with speed is big. That hasn't really happened and when it does teams in this tournament play back defensively, so he can't use his speed to blow by guys.

Also, I remember Hossa saying that he's tough to get used to, because he passes off his backhand more than his forehand. Hossa might be the best all around RW in the NHL, and it took several weeks for him and Crosby to click.
- rival22

I totally get that. I actually like hearing all the skilled nhlers say he is tough to keep up with. I was just throwing that back at everyone who says chemistry is overrated when it comes to playing with Sid. Kunitz hasn't looked the best, maybe nerves? But there hasn't been many forwards that have regularly look great so far.

His game thrives on quick passes and doing everything with speed. Hard to work quickly when you don't know exactly where your linemates will be. Also, getting him he puck in the neutral zone with speed is big. That hasn't really happened and when it does teams in this tournament play back defensively, so he can't use his speed to blow by guys.

Also, I remember Hossa saying that he's tough to get used to, because he passes off his backhand more than his forehand. Hossa might be the best all around RW in the NHL, and it took several weeks for him and Crosby to click.
- rival22

I just read this on Tiops...

Because of injury, Sid and Hossa only played 4 full games together before the playoffs. They combined for 53 points that playoff year.

I just read this on Tiops...

Because of injury, Sid and Hossa only played 4 full games together before the playoffs. They combined for 53 points that playoff year.
- madmike71

Kind of helps the case on leaving kunitz home and taking a better player.

Kind of helps the case on leaving kunitz home and taking a better player.
- prock

Maybe you can take your time machine back a couple of months and change Hockey Canada's minds....

Kind of helps the case on leaving kunitz home and taking a better player.
- prock

So the gold medal for Canada is 100% dependent on Kunitz? Got it.

if Stamkos was healthy and playing on the wing, it's a non story

Arguement from authority means nothing! The fact that majority think something means nothing as far as truth value. The guy has better regular season numbers the last 2 seasons then both Hall and Giroux. The guy has won 2 cups and has never been over matched or out of his league. If he sits in the medal round he sits, but he belongs on the team.
- Brianandr1

Better check again

2013/14:

Kunitz - 58GP 27 28 55
Hall - 53GP 20 36 56
Giroux - 59GP 19 38 57

my lineup vs swiss

Duchene, Crosby, Tavares
benn, getzlaf, perry
carter, toews, marleau
nash, Bergeron, st.louis
sharp


kunitz draws in on the 4th line if we play the states in the semis
- hugefemale dog77

i like this a lot. we can argue all we want about kunitz being there or not. its not a travesty that he went, but its also not a travesty for him to sit for a game.

those top two lines are exactly how id have them.

i like this a lot. we can argue all we want about kunitz being there or not. its not a travesty that he went, but its also not a travesty for him to sit for a game.

those top two lines are exactly how id have them.
- stayinthefnnet

Better check again

2013/14:

Kunitz - 58GP 27 28 55
Hall - 53GP 20 36 56
Giroux - 59GP 19 38 57
- Iggysbff

2 seasons ... Last and this year

Hey trolls, science has you figured out.

http://www.slate.com/arti...rcissism_psychopathy.html
- powerhouse

Interesting!

We'll just go ahead and label you as "sadistic" for pointing this out.

Sooooo....16 pages of comments....I haven't read them, but I'm guessing 95% is people griping about Sid or complaining about Kunitz.

if Crosby isn't producing, why gift him with more minutes?

2 seasons ... Last and this year
- Brianandr1

Kunitz 107P in 106GP 1.009PPG
Hall 106P in 98GP 1.082PPG

One was playing on a line with the best player in the league…and I don't mean nuge

if Crosby isn't producing, why gift him with more minutes?
- TheNugeIsHuge

Because he's the type of player that could go off for five points at anytime?

Kunitz 107P in 106GP 1.009PPG
Hall 106P in 98GP 1.082PPG

One was playing on a line with the best player in the league…and I don't mean nuge

- TheNugeIsHuge

I'm with you! I thought that anyone of Hall, Giroux, Neal, E. Staal or Seguin should have been there before Kuntz. Poop, even a couple kids like Johansen or MacKinnon might have worked out better!

Because he's the type of player that could go off for five points at anytime?
- As_I_See_It

make him work for it. They shouldn't give a guy a bunch of minutes because they know how good he is. The best player in the world can go 4-5 games with few to no points, especially against national teams.

Play whoever's hot

Sooooo....16 pages of comments....I haven't read them, but I'm guessing 95% is people griping about Sid or complaining about Kunitz.
- Emperor Filonius

Pretty much. It's a magical time of year.

- hugefemale dog77

New lines (via LeBrun).

Kunitz Crosby Bergeron.
Benn Getzlaf Perry.
Marleau Toews Carter.
Sharp Tavares Nash.
Duchene rotating on Getzlaf line. St Louis extra on4th

Apparently coaching/management aren't with us on this one

Malkin still not on Russia's PP which looks horrible, BTW.

One thing I've noticed that might be hampering Crosby's production is the line changes.

I don't have any notes or anything with times jotted down or anything, but I've noticed this a lot: it seems like at least 1, if not 2 of the guys that are supposed to shift off for Crosby's line have had the tendency of staying out there for another 15-20 seconds before shifting off as well. This has caused Sid to already be 20 seconds into his shift before his actual line mates are out there and by that point, he's already half-tired from trying to rag the puck to kill time before his line actually gets on the ice. They don't seem to actually be able to shift on together (or even close to the same time) and get anything established before it's already time for another line change.

I can probably count 5 or 6 times per game that this happens, leading to at least that many useless shifts where they can't get on the same page. And it's not stuff like guys just getting caught deep in the zone or something. It just seems like guys not paying attention to a line change and just wanting to keep going, screwing up the ability of that next line to actually get a full shift together.

But that's just something I've noticed that might have something to do with things

I guess the point I was making is that Sid is effectively getting 2 half-shifts as 1 shift due to the mid-shift changing for his line-mates. And doing that on the bigger ice surface means getting tired quicker and not being able to really get anything going before it's time to make the next change.

But maybe that's just what I'm seeing.

Hope we get to play the Canadian team this Friday.