Realistically, Crosby has given you only 3 less points at 5v5 than Kane while playing some of the best defense in hockey. Of course he deserves the Hart.
- James_Tanner

Crosby for Selke????

The problem with figuring in recency bias is that you negate the fact the Crsoby's early season struggles greatly contributed to the fact that he had to be so lights out down the stretch while fighting for a playoff stop. We can blame MJ all day for Crosby's struggles but at the end of the day what makes truly great players great is the fact that they are able to find a way to contribute and be productive under any circumstance, not just when the stars are perfectly aligned for them. I'm by no means saying Crosby isn't great but if he's so great and the greatest player in the world then shouldn't he be expected to fall on him to find a way to excel in a system that may not be a perfect fit for him? Malkin's production may have dipped from his normal level but he was still finding a way to produce at an exceptable level and was carrying the team on his back many nights under MJ. I guess it just frustrates me that it's constant excuse making ever time the stars aren't aligned perfectly and he struggles.

As for the MVP, the definition of the award itself clouds the conversation but I would find it hard to support a player that play half the season great and half the season poorly regardless of the circumstances behind why he performed poorly. If I remember correctly Ovechkin was in a similar situation a few years back where he started the season slow but then went on a tear at the end of the season, didn't win the Hart and the common rational was that his early season struggles made it impossible for him to be the MVP.
- jaydogg1974

Anyone paying attention to the Penguins knows that even though he wasn't putting up massive points early on, the Penguins, while losing, were actually playing really well. Crosby was a key component to their early season defense being among the best in the NHL. Then, once the sample size evens out, he's back near the top of the league.

I get people want a new best player, but he's pretty much just flatout incredible.

Crosby for Selke????
- cap1681

It wouldn't be a ridiculous choice, but Bergeron, Kopitar and Thornton also all deserve consideration. Toews too probably.

The problem with figuring in recency bias is that you negate the fact the Crsoby's early season struggles greatly contributed to the fact that he had to be so lights out down the stretch while fighting for a playoff stop. We can blame MJ all day for Crosby's struggles but at the end of the day what makes truly great players great is the fact that they are able to find a way to contribute and be productive under any circumstance, not just when the stars are perfectly aligned for them. I'm by no means saying Crosby isn't great but if he's so great and the greatest player in the world then shouldn't he be expected to fall on him to find a way to excel in a system that may not be a perfect fit for him? Malkin's production may have dipped from his normal level but he was still finding a way to produce at an exceptable level and was carrying the team on his back many nights under MJ. I guess it just frustrates me that it's constant excuse making ever time the stars aren't aligned perfectly and he struggles.

As for the MVP, the definition of the award itself clouds the conversation but I would find it hard to support a player that play half the season great and half the season poorly regardless of the circumstances behind why he performed poorly. If I remember correctly Ovechkin was in a similar situation a few years back where he started the season slow but then went on a tear at the end of the season, didn't win the Hart and the common rational was that his early season struggles made it impossible for him to be the MVP.
- jaydogg1974

Agree on all points, especially that the criteria for the Hart is very cloudy and open for a lot of interpretation.

He didn't do that already? Maybe he should have his C taken away and be shipped out.
- dbell646

Agreed. Trade him for Girardi.

Anyone paying attention to the Penguins knows that even though he wasn't putting up massive points early on, the Penguins, while losing, were actually playing really well. Crosby was a key component to their early season defense being among the best in the NHL. Then, once the sample size evens out, he's back near the top of the league.

I get people want a new best player, but he's pretty much just flatout incredible.
- James_Tanner

Yeah. Crosby is a very underrated 2 way player (especially from opposing fans). He has hit another gear with this part of his game this year, especially under Sullivan.

I'd vote for Crosby.

However I have been a Pens fan for 30 years!

Ryan you should have made a blog with the most outlandish Crosby comments from November.

Ryan you should have made a blog with the most outlandish Crosby comments from November.
- dbell646

"I don't like em..."

Just sayin.

"I don't like em..."

Just sayin.
- jmatchett383

You love em

You love em
- dbell646

I don't, but Claude Giroux wants to grab his butt.

Edit: In all honesty, I don't really like Crosby. I like him more than Malkin and Letang, but I'm not a huge fan. At all. That said, he should definitely be in the running for the Hart.

I don't, but Claude Giroux wants to grab his butt.

Edit: In all honesty, I don't really like Crosby. I like him more than Malkin and Letang, but I'm not a huge fan. At all. That said, he should definitely be in the running for the Hart.
- jmatchett383

So you don't like all three of those guys, you're a Flyers fan, but you root for the Pens when they're not playing Filly. Something's not adding up here...

Ryan you should have made a blog with the most outlandish Crosby comments from November.
- dbell646

Yes!!!

i dont get how hes the best player yet hes been thru what 5 coaches? he pouts and cries, gets a new coach, plays hard loses in the playoffs. pouts gets a coach fired , tries hard etc.

So you don't like all three of those guys, you're a Flyers fan, but you root for the Pens when they're not playing Filly. Something's not adding up here...
- Victoro311

I like the team, always have. I don't always like a lot of the Flyers' players (Downie, Carcillo, and their current 4th line), but I root for them. I like MAF, love Maata, am a big Hornqvist fan. Just because I don't like certain players doesn't mean I don't root for the team.

i dont get how hes the best player yet hes been thru what 5 coaches? he pouts and cries, gets a new coach, plays hard loses in the playoffs. pouts gets a coach fired , tries hard etc.
- masterhans

Yes. The coaches get fired because Crosby cries. It's all so clear now.

Realistically, Crosby has given you only 3 less points at 5v5 than Kane while playing some of the best defense in hockey. Of course he deserves the Hart.
- James_Tanner

Tanner with the mic drop.

Yes. The coaches get fired because Crosby cries. It's all so clear now.
- jmatchett383

yep

yep
- masterhans

Great, thanks for stopping by.

i dont get how hes the best player yet hes been thru what 5 coaches? he pouts and cries, gets a new coach, plays hard loses in the playoffs. pouts gets a coach fired , tries hard etc.
- masterhans

huh?

huh?
- j.boyd919

Just some random jabberwocky trying to make Crosby out to be a entitled whining crybaby.

I like the team, always have. I don't always like a lot of the Flyers' players (Downie, Carcillo, and their current 4th line), but I root for them. I like MAF, love Maata, am a big Hornqvist fan. Just because I don't like certain players doesn't mean I don't root for the team.
- jmatchett383

I just think it's crazy that you're a flyers fan who roots for the Pens but hates the three main faces of the franchise right now. If I was a Philly fan first and foremost and hated Crosby, Malkin, and Letang I would not root for this era of Penguins hockey

I don't, but Claude Giroux wants to grab his butt.

Edit: In all honesty, I don't really like Crosby. I like him more than Malkin and Letang, but I'm not a huge fan. At all. That said, he should definitely be in the running for the Hart.
- jmatchett383

What is it that you don't like about Crosby (Or even Letang, and Malkin for that matter)? A lot of people hate on him cause he's good, much like people hate on Tom Brady (Personally, I love watching Brady play, the dude is surgical). I'm not a fan of players in sports that just seem like douche bags and that are full of themselves, but if they're good players, even on teams that I hate, I still enjoy watching them. (Giroux, Nash, Brodeur, Voracek, etc. etc.) I get that at some point, if you're going to be a professional athlete you have to be somewhat full of yourself, but I've always though Sid and Geno, and a majority of the super stars in the league carry themselves with humility.

Just some random jabberwocky trying to make Crosby out to be a entitled whining crybaby.
- jmatchett383

he isnt?

What is it that you don't like about Crosby (Or even Letang, and Malkin for that matter)? A lot of people hate on him cause he's good, much like people hate on Tom Brady (Personally, I love watching Brady play, the dude is surgical). I'm not a fan of players in sports that just seem like douche bags and that are full of themselves, but if they're good players, even on teams that I hate, I still enjoy watching them. (Giroux, Nash, Brodeur, Voracek, etc. etc.) I get that at some point, if you're going to be a professional athlete you have to be somewhat full of yourself, but I've always though Sid and Geno, and a majority of the super stars in the league carry themselves with humility.
- j.boyd919

brady has won four and been to six superbowls. crosby is more like steve young