The Next One

Crosby.

A name that previously would have been immediately associated with a musician, now nationally recognized as the greatest hockey player in Canada. From an early age "Sid the Kid" was highly touted as the future of Canadian hockey. Wayne Gretzky, "The Great One" said that if anyone could beat his records, Sidney Crosby could. He broke records in minor hockey, junior hockey and scored some exceptional goals for Team Canada in the World Junior tournament.

Drafted first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2005, Crosby recorded 102 points in his rookie season, second to Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals in the Calder Trophy race. In his sophomore season, he led the league in scoring with 120 Points and helped the Penguins into the post-season. Last season he played just 53 Games, amassing 72 Points and leading the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals where they were defeated by the powerhouse Detroit Red Wings.

After a slow start to his season, Crosby registered 103 Points as the Penguins struggled out of the gate but managed a fourth place finish in the Eastern Conference. The Penguins face the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday in what is sure to be a hard fought series. The Hurricanes have upset both the New Jersey Devils and the Boston Bruins thus far and look to capture their second Stanley Cup in four years. To date, Sidney has recorded a league best twelve goals and 21 points in two rounds of playoff action. His twelve Goals are twice as many as he recorded in all of last year’s playoffs, and his 21 Points are just six shy of last year’s totals.

Crosby and the Penguins look to claim the teams first Stanley Cup since back-to-back Cups in 1991 and 1992, the Mario Lemieux era. Crosby has shown great leadership thus far, and I look forward to the series ahead. I would love to witness the first of many Crosby Stanley Cups this season and hope that his best hockey is yet to come.