By Shelly Anderson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/
Of all the Penguins, Sidney Crosby seems to be the most particular about his skates. He has them sharpened all the time.
The year that starts today, 2010, will be a lot like those blades he motors around with -- never a dull moment for the center and team captain.
PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 23: Forward Sidney Crosby(notes) #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins threads a pass past forward Jarkko Ruutu(notes) #73 of the Ottawa Senators on December 23, 2009 at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Crosby had three assists in Pittsburgh's 8-2 win over Ottawa. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)Today would be relatively routine for Crosby, with a practice and flight to Tampa for tomorrow's afternoon game against the Lightning, except that he also has a new commercial airing on NBC during the Winter Classic.
Things will ramp up significantly in the coming weeks.
Crosby this week was named as an alternate captain for Team Canada and will undoubtedly get rock-star treatment in Vancouver during the Winter Olympics in February. It will be his first time playing in the Games.
When he and a handful of Penguins teammates return from Vancouver, Crosby will take on the task of captaining the club down the stretch of the NHL schedule and, most likely, into the playoffs, where the team will attempt to repeat as the Stanley Cup champion.
The ending to that chapter, good or bad, will mark the closing of 49-year-old Mellon Arena.
In the summer, Crosby hopes to hold his first signature fundraising event for the new Sidney Crosby Foundation. He'll also sneak in his 23rd birthday.
Then he will help christen Consol Energy Center as he launches into his sixth NHL season.
That's a pretty busy start to a decade in which he should hit his prime as an athlete.
"I don't think you try to look at it as a whole like that," Crosby said. "It can be pretty overwhelming maybe. But you look forward to all those things. You look forward to those challenges."
Crosby wasn't picked for the Olympics as an 18-year-old NHL rookie. While he's looking forward to taking the world stage in his native Canada, he's mindful of the aftereffects."I've played in the world junior [championships]," he said. "That was pretty emotional. I remember the first week or so after being pretty easy to be into things. You're looking forward to being with your teammates, things like that.
"It's more like a week after that it gets tougher. Your adrenaline kind of settles down as you get back into the grind."
Until the postseason, anyway, when the blood gets pumping again.
One thing Crosby can't look forward to is the prospect of being the youngest captain to hoist the Cup -- he already accomplished that in June -- but he would love to see the Penguins give the Igloo a championship sendoff.
"That's the perfect ending to the story," Crosby said. "Hopefully that's what happens."
Moving across the street to Consol Energy Center will bring mixed feelings.
"It's a building that's got a lot of history, a lot of tradition," Crosby said of Mellon (formerly Civic) Arena. "Everyone's looking forward to the new rink, but at the same time I think this has been a rink -- whether it's players or fans -- with a lot of memories."
A creature of habit and superstition, Crosby might have a bit of a hard time adjusting to new surroundings.
"Yeah, it's going to be weird," he said. "I've already thought about it. It's just a lot of things. You just get so used to things. It's like when you're in your own house -- some people spend more time in the living room or in the basement, little things like that.
"This has been our home rink. You get to know the people who work in the same places, whether it's the guys working security or parking attendants."
It's possible that won't be his only new home in the coming year.
During the months of the season, Crosby so far in his career has lived with the family of Hall of Famer and co-owner Mario Lemieux. He has been house-hunting in recent years and hopes to continue.
PHILADELPHIA - DECEMBER 17: Sidney Crosby(notes) #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against Chris Pronger(notes) #20 on December 17, 2009 at Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Penguins defeated the Flyers 3-2 after a shootout. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)"If there's time and it's the right fit, then I'm happy to find a place," Crosby said.
"But I'm really lucky with my situation. I don't have the pressure to move out. If the right place comes along, I'm ready to move."
That would make 2010 even more eventful for the young star. He remains undaunted.
"You want a little bit of new things," Crosby said. "When you're talking about a new arena, the Olympics, these are pretty amazing things to be a part of, pretty special and unique.
"You just appreciate those things and try to do the best you can with whatever situation comes."
NOTES -- Lemieux was appointed an officer within the Order of Canada. ... The Penguins had the day off yesterday. ... Crosby and teammate Max Talbot are featured in the Reebok ad that will debut today. The two are in Crosby's re-created family basement shooting pucks at the dryer Crosby dinged up when he missed the net while practicing growing up. ... The Team USA hockey roster for Vancouver will be announced after the Winter Classic.
Photo Credit: AP
For more on the Penguins, read the new Pens Plus blog with Dave Molinari and Shelly Anderson at www.post-gazette.com/plus. Shelly Anderson can be reached at shanderson@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1721.
Penguins Plus, a blog by Dave Molinari and Shelly Anderson, is featured exclusively on PG+, a members-only web site from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.
First published on January 1, 2010 at 12:00 am
No comments:
Post a Comment