Kirk Herbstreit just said Tyler Boyd was a great high school quarterback. I covered almost every game he played in high school. He never played quarterback.
Many will disagree. But I have a real problem with the MVP vote.
McDavid is one of the best players of all time. He was brilliant. But he had no points in the last two games, was particularly quiet in perhaps the biggest NHL game of this century, and…his team lost.
Sidney Crosby is probably the most media accessible star player in hockey history. He also spends much of his free time comforting kids at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, with zero fanfare.
If he wants to blow off a night of these idiotic all star festivities, I think it’s ok.
When Matt Cooke was officially out of control, Mario and Ray Shero sat down with him, told him he had a problem and that he had to change.
The Capitals just keep pushing the idea that Tom Wilson is a victim. It’s a disturbing lack of accountability. And the NHL isn’t helping.
I mailed a Pirates mask to Doc Emrick this summer. He wrote a priceless letter back and sent money for God’s sake. Thought you’d all enjoy. What a legendary human being:
Petry = Disappointing in Pittsburgh
Rutta = Disappointing in Pittsburgh
Granlund = Disaster in Pittsburgh
Legare = Struggling prospect
DeSmith = Average backup
Dubas got rid of all of them. Sure, he gave up draft picks. But this is a staggering win for the Penguins.
And just like that, Geno Malkin signs a four year deal with the Penguins.
Sidney Crosby, from what I’ve heard, played a big role in getting both sides talking once again after Monday’s negotiations went poorly.
News broke that Mario Lemieux was coming out of retirement 20 years ago today. After not playing for nearly four years, he produced 35 goals and 76 points in 43 games, at age 35. In the heart of the dead puck era. No player in hockey history could have pulled that off. Only him.
Sidney Crosby points per game, season by season:
1.26
1.52
1.36
1.34
1.35
1.61
1.68
1.56
1.30
1.09
1.06
1.19
1.09
1.27
1.15
He joins Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky as the only three players in NHL history to average at least one point per game in each of his first 15 seasons.
They acted like JuJu committed assault because of a blindside block against the NFL's dirtiest player. AB just got speared in the head and it was barely mentioned.
That’s 18 points in 9 games for Geno Malkin, who absolutely no one seems to be talking about. The most under-appreciated star of his time, and by a wide margin.
Sid will probably have left $50 million on the table in terms of additional money he could have made for the sake of helping the Penguins field a winner over the course of his career. Part of his legacy.
Maybe it’s time to lay off Ron Hextall a bit. Just signed Letang, Malkin, Rakell and Rust for a combined $22.3 million annually. Way less than anyone could have projected.
The Penguins were supposed to fly home after their game in Arizona last night. But before leaving Tempe, they decided, as a team, they needed to be in Montreal instead, as love for a teammate was more important. They arrived at 4 am. Read about it here:
Friday night is the 30th anniversary of the night the Penguins eliminated the Rangers in Pittsburgh in Game 6 after the Adam Graves slash knocked Mario Lemieux out of the series. Sidney Crosby was just injured by a dirty play. Game 6 is in Pittsburgh on Friday.
I asked Sidney Crosby if he'd be enjoying the eclipse in Toronto this afternoon. He politely responded that he wouldn't be because it's during his pregame nap. It's the kind of laser focus on winning we've come to expect. lol
Sidney Crosby, 36, starts his 19th season tonight. More than half of his life has been spent as face of the Penguins.
He lived up to the hype. He’s still great. And a gentleman beyond compare.
A generation of Mario, followed by a generation of Sid? Never been anything like it.
There aren’t many living legends in sports. Sidney Crosby is one of them. Quite a scene as the entire Penguins team jumps on the ice to celebrate his 500th goal.
I think it's bullshit that the Stanley Cup is in the HOF in Toronto most of the year. If you win the Cup, that thing should be yours and yours alone for 12 months. Just parade it around the building when the Flyers are in town to taunt them, stuff like that. Just my 2 cents.
With that point, Sidney Crosby has cliched a point per game average in each of his first 16 NHL seasons, the second player in NHL history to do so. Wayne Gretzky was the other.
Starting next season, there will be at least 28 NHL players counting more against the cap than Sidney Crosby. When analyzing his legacy, never forget how his unselfishness has helped the Penguins. Sure, the 87 superstition helps. But he deserves more credit than he gets for this.
Was just standing in hallway at Staples Center. Joe Pesci was standing there, hoping to say hi to Sidney Crosby. Kris Letang walks up to him and tells him he hated when he died in Goodfellas. Pesci responds, “Thanks, kid. But I’m ok. It was just a fucking movie.”
quote tweet this with a mundane experience you’ve shared with someone who is more famous than you
(but you obviously have enough chill to leave it out of your twitter bio)
Saw LeBron had fans removed from a game last night. I’m sure the fans were being assholes.
But that’s a difference between Jordan and LeBron. Jordan would have wanted them to stay in the front row, would have drained 10 straight shots, and stared them down after each one.
Talked with Jeff Carter after the game to congratulate him on his career and his last goal. I commented that scoring your last goal in your last game off a feed from Crosby was pretty cool.
His response: “It was fucking perfect.”
Sidney Crosby is very smart and very sensitive to his concussion history. I do not believe he would risk his health, no matter how big a game may be. Thus, that he’s on the ice and practicing has to be a hell of a good sign medically.
Imagine being Tristan Jarry.
• You crumbled last postseason
• Many believe you can’t perform in playoffs
• It fueled you all summer
• It made you better
• Then you got hurt
• Now, you get one chance, not a best of 7
• On the road. MSG. Game 7.
Talk about pressure.
I hope everyone is enjoying what Crosby is doing right now. He was so precocious that he became the best player in the game at 19. He's still a top 5 player in the game at 36. He's been consistently brilliant in between. Top 5 player in hockey history, without question.
If you’re a Penguins fan, be thankful for these facts:
• Only three teams have scored more goals than the Penguins
• Only one team has a better goal differential
• The Penguins have played only four full games with Crosby and Malkin
• Crosby will be back in a few weeks
It’s extremely early in the season, but it’s worth noting that Geno Malkin is currently on pace for 101 points and is playing some of the finest defense of his career.
At age 37.
Truly an all-time great who continues to be underappreciated.
The Penguins currently...
• Have the 4th most points in the NHL
• Have the 5th best goal differential
• Are in first place in the NHL’s deepest division
• Have the 4th most man games lost due to injury
This all speaks very, very highly of Sidney Crosby and Mike Sullivan.
Louis Domingue stopped in the middle of an answer to wish all of the mothers a Happy Mother’s Day. Just run for mayor now, pal. If you don’t like this guy, there is something wrong with you.
I see lots of people giving Malkin shit for being fragile. I’ll take the alternate route. He was playing on a very badly injured knee and perhaps risked the rest of his career to play in the playoffs. That says a lot about his character.
A couple of weeks ago, numerous Penguins told me Sidney Crosby was going to try and will them to the playoffs in the aftermath of Jake Guentzel’s injury. Since then, the Penguins are 4-1-1 and Crosby has 10 points in 6 games. The mountain to climb is mighty. So, too, is Sid.
Sidney Crosby, age 36, is on pace for 50 goals and 94 points. And is winning 60 percent of his face-offs. And has taken more draws than any player in the league.
There is a real chance MAF returns to Penguins.
• He doesn’t want to be in Chicago
• He still loves Pittsburgh
• He’s a clear upgrade over Jarry
• There’s no point in Hawks keeping him
This is the bridge where the romantic notion of his return and logic meet.
Penguins’ problems:
• Can’t trust goaltending
• Blue line = bad
• Bottom six = Even worse
• GM = Incompetent
• Too slow
• Too small
• Too many players with no heart
• Bad contracts for years
• Too old
• Coaching stubbornness
This is just off top of my head.
In the middle of answering questions, Fleury stopped to thank Pittsburgh. Said he did indeed cry during the video. “I will remember this night forever.”
We are two wins on each side away from the Washington Capitals finally arriving at the promised land, only to be greeted by the smiling face of Marc-Andre Fleury.
Just a gentle reminder that Mario Lemieux is among the most generous people our city has ever experienced and that an enormous amount of cancer patients — of all races, sexes, ages and political beliefs — have been aided by his generosity and his initiative to help them.
I have never seen Pittsburgh turn on the Steelers like this. But it’s not people being bad or disloyal fans. People have just had enough of the incompetency and expect a winner. I respect it.
The Penguins have been playing shorthanded all season. Even now, they’re without Malkin, Guentzel and Rust.
They’re on pace for 100 points.
Mike Sullivan knows what he’s doing.
Since the Penguins’ 17-game winning streak in the 92-93 season is receiving much attention at the moment, a reminder: Mario Lemieux, in those 17 games, put up 27 goals, 24 assists and 51 points. And he did it only weeks after undergoing two months of cancer radiation treatments.
Dubas now has the kind of power that he never had in Toronto. I'm presuming he will hire a GM to work under him, someone who likely shares his vision. The Penguins need serious change. This is a very big step and a good day for the organization.
Emotion: boy fumbled the whole post season in the biggest game of year ! Everyone went blind to busy making guys famous not enough reality these days ! 🤙🏾 by the way check the list
Ages of Penguins when the Cup is awarded next June:
Sid 35
Geno 36
Letang 36
Carter 38
Rust 31
Rakell 30
Zucker 31
Dumoulin 31
Petry 35
Ruhwedel 33
Ruuta 32
DeSmith 31
Lots of talent, yes. But that’s a very old team. And that’s a problem.
I don’t know how this season will end for the Penguins. But there is something special about this team. What they have overcome — and the way they have played — is incredible.
The Penguins are 2-0, have outscored the opposition 12-4 and have 98 shots on goal through two games. Sidney Crosby has 6 points and has been utterly dominant. Geno Malkin looks healthy. Tristan Jarry is sharp. Couldn’t ask for a better start.
Ushers/security ejected 17 fans from the Penguins/Flyers game for not wearing masks. I was told all were drinking. Here’s a thought: Maybe don’t sell alcohol at games right now.
This should make you appreciate what the Penguins have done in the Crosby era. Three Cups. Four Final appearances. 20 series wins.
The Leafs have been really good and really talented for 5 seasons and haven’t won a series. That tells you how hard it is to win in the playoffs.
Since suspensions don’t work for changed man Tom Wilson, maybe handcuffs would be better. Glad the Caps decided to put an “A” on his sweater. Embarrassing.
On the 5 year anniversary of the Penguins winning the Cup in Nashville, a stick tap to what Matt Murray did in that final game. The Penguins were running on fumes. Murray wouldn’t let them lose. No matter where his career goes from here, he will always have that night.
I can’t say anything nice about Fleury without taking heat from the Murray crowd, and vice versa. It’s so weird.
I think it’s ok to think highly of both of their respective accomplishments.
If the Penguins and Bruins happen to meet in the next round, I’d like to see Marchand try to lick Geno. I can’t even imagine Geno’s meltdown, but it would be glorious.