I don't know about that.... even back in training camp when guys like Matt freakin' D'Agostino and Chuck Kobasew were our saviors on the third line, a lot of people had issues.

When the team got healthy down the stretch and showed flashes of being a complete team with secondary scoring in the first round, I think we sort of all let our expectations rise.
- rival22

Also added a little depth via trade deadline

That's why I said he's the ultimate insurance policy.

By that mentality, I guess the Canadiens should have acquired Miller at the TDL in case Price got injured.
- jmatchett383

What ever you want to call it. Yes he's an insurance policy. But as I said before, it's not a bad thing to have 2 generational players at the most important position. Shame on the Pens for not being able to develop a couple of forwards to fill out the depth.

Now you're reaching....

Let's not equate the Price injury with what Sid went through. Sid's concussion was not typical at all. Most players miss 2 weeks with a concussion, Sid missed nearly 2 years. I think it safe to say if he has another really bad concussion, it's career threatening.

Also added a little depth via trade deadline
- dbell646

That's another thing. The TDL acquisition of Stempniak and Goc were good moves. It didn't work out in the end, but they were much better, smarter moves than going after the big fish like Iginla and Murray the year before. I wish they'd kept Stempniak up on the top line, he looked good up there.

What ever you want to call it. Yes he's an insurance policy. But as I said before, it's not a bad thing to have 2 generational players at the most important position. Shame on the Pens for not being able to develop a couple of forwards to fill out the depth.

Now you're reaching....

Let's not equate the Price injury with what Sid went through. Sid's concussion was not typical at all. Most players miss 2 weeks with a concussion, Sid missed nearly 2 years. I think it safe to say if he has another really bad concussion, it's career threatening.
- madmike71

I know it's different, I was just being bratty. And like you say, it's not a bad thing to have 2 generational players (technically, there can only be one generational player per generation, but I digress), but I'd rather have 1 generational player and a lot of really good other players as opposed to 2 "generational" players and a bunch of okay players.

What doesn't make him captain material? Please tell me why all of you people all of a sudden think he is a terrible leader. Last season Toews had 3 goals and 11 assists and won a cup. I remember him sitting on the bench with his head down because he had no answer for his game. His team lifted him up, played better, and Toews got to lift another cup without being the go to guy.
Sid doesn't have that luxury. This team isn't much of a team right now and that is not Crosby's fault.
- usethe1-2-2

The better question would be, what makes you think he is captain material. Because he is "the best player" on the team? Is that what makes the best captain.
All of the sudden? Ive been giving him a pass because he was young and immature. Maybe nex year.

The better question would be, what makes you think he is captain material. Because he is "the best player" on the team? Is that what makes the best captain.
All of the sudden? Ive been giving him a pass because he was young and immature. Maybe nex year.
- all-pgh

No no no no no no no no NO! NO!

Now that we've got that out of the way, I think he is captain material. Is he A+ captain material? No. But he is captain material.

- Leads by example, which is USUALLY a good thing. The players will follow him, which means that he has earned their trust. Very hard to do.

- Is extremely competitive, even for a pro athlete. Critical part of a captain.

- Has superior skill, and still works as hard as anyone to get even better.

- Is not afraid to give an honest assessment of the team, pushing aside cliches for truth.

He may not be a Toews/Iginla/Pronger/Messier-level captain, but he is a legitimate captain.

I'm convinced that if Letang does not have a stroke, he would have been moved for a winger(s)... Especially after seeing Maatta in action. That being said if it were me i would still try and move Letang IF i could get value... Along with James Neal. I am still a strong believer in Despres and would try and sign Niskanen to 60-70% of Letangs contract.

For me it is too late to trade Malkin... Meaning i would have traded if Staal would have stayed... Or better yet turn back the clock and draft Toews over Staal. You think Mario and Burkle factored that into Shero's evaluation.

The better question would be, what makes you think he is captain material. Because he is "the best player" on the team? Is that what makes the best captain.
All of the sudden? Ive been giving him a pass because he was young and immature. Maybe nex year.
- all-pgh

The better question is always asked when one cannot answer the original question, but I will play your game since you won't answer mine. He is the captain because he is the hardest worker on the team. He speaks for them in the media, takes the blame and draws the attention away from his teammates. Evgeni Malkin couldn't handle the spot light, that's why he is perfectly fine playing second string to Crosby. He always talks about Crosby being his captain, his friend, that he couldn't be where he is at without him.

The Toews is better than Crosby argument is purely a "what have you done for me lately argument.

In last year's playoffs, in essentially two series, Crosby outscored Jonathan Toews in 4. People questioned his leadership then, questioned if he was hurt, etc etc etc.

Jonathan Toews is a heck of a hockey player, and I'd love for him to be on my team, but to say that he's better than Crosby is a bit myopic.
- rival22

Myopic is having homervision and scoffing at the idea that anybody could be better.

If you want to use last years playoffs as an example, yes Sid had more points but

+/- Sid -3 Toews +9
Faceoffs won/lost SId 172-172 Toews 268-237
Last but not least he is team did win the cup for what that's worth.

my point was, at present time I believe Toews is a better "all around" player.

I'm convinced that if Letang does not have a stroke, he would have been moved for a winger(s)... Especially after seeing Maatta in action. That being said if it were me i would still try and move Letang IF i could get value... Along with James Neal. I am still a strong believer in Despres and would try and sign Niskanen to 60-70% of Letangs contract.

For me it is too late to trade Malkin... Meaning i would have traded if Staal would have stayed... Or better yet turn back the clock and draft Toews over Staal. You think Mario and Burkle factored that into Shero's evaluation.
- PENS FAN in CANADA

I think most people had Staal and Johnson rated as #1/#1A going in. There's always room for the top-5 to shuffle a bit, but they drafted Staal and it looked like the smart move early on. I don't think picking him over Toews (or Backstrom, or Giroux, or Kessel) affected their decision.

Myopic is having homervision and scoffing at the idea that anybody could be better.

If you want to use last years playoffs as an example, yes Sid had more points but

+/- Sid -3 Toews +9
Faceoffs won/lost SId 172-172 Toews 268-237
Last but not least he is team did win the cup for what that's worth.

my point was, at present time I believe Toews is a better "all around" player.
- all-pgh

GIROUX BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD!

Myopic is having homervision and scoffing at the idea that anybody could be better.

If you want to use last years playoffs as an example, yes Sid had more points but

+/- Sid -3 Toews +9
Faceoffs won/lost SId 172-172 Toews 268-237
Last but not least he is team did win the cup for what that's worth.

my point was, at present time I believe Toews is a better "all around" player.
- all-pgh

Toews may be slightly better all-around, but does Crosby's point production difference balance the offset?

No no no no no no no no NO! NO!

Now that we've got that out of the way, I think he is captain material. Is he A+ captain material? No. But he is captain material.

- Leads by example, which is USUALLY a good thing. The players will follow him, which means that he has earned their trust. Very hard to do.

- Is extremely competitive, even for a pro athlete. Critical part of a captain.

- Has superior skill, and still works as hard as anyone to get even better.

- Is not afraid to give an honest assessment of the team, pushing aside cliches for truth.

He may not be a Toews/Iginla/Pronger/Messier-level captain, but he is a legitimate captain.
- jmatchett383

Are you talking about how he pushed Girouxs glove away from him and when asked why he did it his answer was because he didn't like them. When he kept losing his composure on and off the ice and his team followed suit. That leader?

No no no no no no no no NO! NO!

Now that we've got that out of the way, I think he is captain material. Is he A+ captain material? No. But he is captain material.

- Leads by example, which is USUALLY a good thing. The players will follow him, which means that he has earned their trust. Very hard to do.

- Is extremely competitive, even for a pro athlete. Critical part of a captain.

- Has superior skill, and still works as hard as anyone to get even better.

- Is not afraid to give an honest assessment of the team, pushing aside cliches for truth.

He may not be a Toews/Iginla/Pronger/Messier-level captain, but he is a legitimate captain.
- jmatchett383

100 percent this.

jmatchettt383 I forgot to respond to your post answering my question, and yes you hit the nail on the head when discussing the long term contracts to aging vets. Those kill the roster. Currently I don't think you can trade Malkin because you have no true top six players outside of he, Sid, Kunitz, and Neal.
To fix this, Pittsburgh has to entertain the thought of trading James Neal for depth wings, Letang for top six wings, or even Paul Martin for a top six wing.

I don't think this team can afford to let Malkin go right now with so many other bad contracts here to stay.

Are you talking about how he pushed Girouxs glove away from him and when asked why he did it his answer was because he didn't like them. When he kept losing his composure on and off the ice and his team followed suit. That leader?
- all-pgh

how about the guy who has been basically the face of the league since he was 19, and was consistently regarded as the best and most talented. oh, well he kind of lacks on faceoffs. rest on my laurels? no, im going to work hard at it every single day in the offseason. now hes at least a little above average. that kind of leadership.

he works his ass off. if the captain and face of the team is consistently showing a drive to work hard to improve, i as player x on the team should too.

Are you talking about how he pushed Girouxs glove away from him and when asked why he did it his answer was because he didn't like them. When he kept losing his composure on and off the ice and his team followed suit. That leader?
- all-pgh

- Leads by example, which is USUALLY a good thing. The players will follow him, which means that he has earned their trust. Very hard to do.

Please look at the capitalized, bolded part.

Toews may be slightly better all-around, but does Crosby's point production difference balance the offset?
- jmatchett383

It didn't this tear or last year or last year...

Are you talking about how he pushed Girouxs glove away from him and when asked why he did it his answer was because he didn't like them. When he kept losing his composure on and off the ice and his team followed suit. That leader?
- all-pgh

You are comical now. It was Voracek first of all. Second of all Crosby was playing games. It was geno and neal who were throwing elbows and running players and they get a pass from you? Neal got suspended and Geno should have been, but they are ok in your book aren't they? Just stop while you are ahead.

Toews may be slightly better all-around, but does Crosby's point production difference balance the offset?
- jmatchett383

this is how i would look at it as well. and to me, the answer is still yes.

It didn't this tear or last year or last year...
- all-pgh

So, I guess Dustin Brown was a better player in 2012, since he led his team to a Cup. Makes sense. team-wide success should be the barometer of individual talent evaluation.

Seeing how Botterill is the acting GM does he have power to sign and trade players rights?

Say he wants to show he is the right person for the job (not saying he is or isnt) can he do anything now ie trade nisk right for draft picks or player or sign him?

or do you think Mario and burkle said you are not allowed to do anything...

Seeing how Botterill is the acting GM does he have power to sign and trade players rights?

Say he wants to show he is the right person for the job (not saying he is or isnt) can he do anything now ie trade nisk right for draft picks or player or sign him?

or do you think Mario and burkle said you are not allowed to do anything...
- nh4442

While the GM does generally have the power to make roster moves, the owners can have final say, as they are the ones who must pay the players.

Seeing how Botterill is the acting GM does he have power to sign and trade players rights?

Say he wants to show he is the right person for the job (not saying he is or isnt) can he do anything now ie trade nisk right for draft picks or player or sign him?

or do you think Mario and burkle said you are not allowed to do anything...
- nh4442

They can probably veto any big move, but he just signed Archibald to an ELC and yes he has complete control right now despite being interim.

So, I guess Dustin Brown was a better player in 2012, since he led his team to a Cup. Makes sense. team-wide success should be the barometer of individual talent evaluation.
- jmatchett383

but but but. if crosby was in fact a good leader. he would make everyone on the ice he plays with a better player, and an even better person.

eric tangradi was a bust of a prospect. thats all the proof i need that crosby is a poop captain.