Crosby Keeps Improving

Crosby keeps improving, has plenty to play for in final 23 games
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
By Dave Molinari, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Canada couldn't find a roster spot for Penguins rookie Sidney Crosby for the Olympics, which ended two days ago.

That decision perplexed a lot of people and angered others, but Crosby never uttered a harsh syllable about the selection process, or the men behind it. And he obviously doesn't hold a grudge about being overlooked.

He makes it quite clear that if officials of Hockey Canada decide they want him for the world championships this spring in Latvia -- and it's almost unthinkable that they wouldn't, since the available talent pool is far more shallow for that event -- they probably won't need to issue the invitation more than once.

Asked if he would be willing to play in that tournament, Crosby didn't hesitate.

"Oh yeah," he said. "Definitely. It's going to be tough if [the Penguins] are not there in the playoffs, obviously, so I'd like to keep playing, and I'd love to represent my country. We'll see what happens, but it would definitely be something I'd be excited about doing."

First, of course, Crosby must complete what has been an extraordinary debut season in the NHL.

The Penguins have 23 games remaining, beginning with a visit by Ottawa to Mellon Arena at 7:38 p.m. tomorrow, and there is much the team, and its most celebrated player, can try to accomplish.

Crosby is hard-wired to focus on team objectives, not individual ones, but there are a few personal achievements with his grasp.

He trails Washington's Alexander Ovechkin, 69-65, in the rookie scoring race and is widely regarded as being behind him in the competition for the Calder Trophy, which goes to the NHL's top rookie. With more than a quarter of the season left, Crosby has a chance to hurdle Ovechkin on both counts.
He's well aware of the situation but hardly consumed by it. He figures, probably with good reason, that getting up in such things would be counterproductive.

"I'd love to have the opportunity to win [the rookie scoring title], but I don't think that's something that's going to be in my mind," Crosby said. "I've played hockey enough to know that when you start thinking about those things, you're not worrying about doing your job and playing.

"I'm going to try to have the strongest 23 games possible. Everyone knows [the Calder] is based on your season. If I can focus on just finishing off the year as strong as possible, having the best however many games I play, we'll see what happens."

This season will go down as one of the most disappointing in Penguins history, and the list of players who did not perform to expectations is practically as long as the roster. Crosby will be nowhere near it, because he has exceeded all but the most outrageous expectations anyone could have had for an 18-year-old.

"He's really dependable," Penguins coach Michel Therrien said, "and he takes a lot of pride in the way he plays."

More important, Crosby is astute enough to realize that, as good as he is, he can upgrade every facet of his game.

"I'm always trying to work on everything," he said. "I don't think you can ever stop learning. I'm trying to stay open-minded, learn new things. Find any way I can to get an edge."

That mind-set has allowed him to improve dramatically in his own zone -- "That's something I really tried to work on as the year went along," he said. "I'm still learning a lot, but I think I've learned to be responsible defensively" -- and on faceoffs.

It's no coincidence that Crosby, who was 30-62 on draws in his first five games in the league, was 61-65 in the five games leading up to the Olympic break.

"When he started as a centerman when I got here, he was struggling with his faceoffs," Therrien said. "Now, he's worked at it -- worked at it after practice -- and he's really, really decent. There are lots of games when he's probably one of the best centermen on faceoffs."

And there will be a lot more, for a lot of years. The Penguins believed they were getting a player around whom they could build when they drafted Crosby in July; now, there can be no doubt that they did.

"He's a leader of that team," Therrien said. "He's a great example for young players, with his work ethic. He makes a huge commitment to fitness. He makes a huge commitment to what it takes to become a great player."

(Dave Molinari can be reached at 412-263-1144.)