I know that Sid the Kid is the future of the NHL, their way to get back into the headlines, and last year it even worked. The question has to be raised though, or at least I think so, is he even the best on his team? Is he the player that really gets them going?
There are always players that look better around stars, that the Michael Jordans of the world make look better. But can that not be the same for "stars" being made to look better by those around them?
Evgeni Malkin was just as much a reason that the Penguins won the Stanley Cup, if not more perhaps. He had two goals and six assists in the finals, compared to Crosby's one goal and two assists, and was named the Stanley Cup Finals MVP. One might look at that and say that Malkin took control of the team and series to lead them to a come from behind win.
While I know Crosby advocators will come out of the woodwork and talk about his season stats, and say he has had over 100 points in three of his four years, they will overlook Malkin. In his first three years he has had over 100 points twice, and in his rookie year had a more than respectable 85 points.
Then you look at this year, since Malkin was injured they have a 2-5 record, and have not scored a power play goal without him. With an overall record of 12-7 my grade school math can figure out that they were 10-2 with Malkin in the lineup.
Crosby may be the more flashy of the two, but flashy does not always equal the best.
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