Why doesn’t anyone want to play with Sidney Crosby?
Many NHL players claim that the main principle which guides their careers is to “win the Stanley cup no matter what.” But after watching the trades and free agent signings that transpired over the summer of 2012 I find it hard to believe that very many players would unequivocally affirm this principle.
I was shocked to hear that Jordan Staal had been traded from Pittsburgh to Carolina. I was further mystified to find out that he had been offered a long term deal by the Pens only to turn it down (rumour has it that it was 60 million over 10 years). Days after the trade to Carolina, Staal signed a long-term deal with them worth (surprise, surprise) 60 million over 10 years. Clearly, getting to play with his older brother Eric was a huge reason he signed the long term deal. He also made it clear that he wanted more ice time in order to play a bigger offensive role. Jordan no longer wanted to play second fiddle to Malkin and Crosby. However, Jordan showed that he cares far more about personal success (more ice time) and personal comfort (playing with his brother) than about winning. He rejected a team that has a chance to win the cup every single year to play for a team that hasn’t done much recently. If all he cared about was winning, he would gladly play second to Crosby and Malkin. He probably could have even demanded to play on a line with them...
We also saw the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter free agency sweep stakes. As free agents they had the legal right to sign with any team for any contract that was allowed under the current CBA. But again, we witnessed two players caring more about comfort than about winning cups. The biggest reason for the pair signing in Minnesota was apparently because of family ties in the area. Rumours abound that Philly and Chicago both offered Parise more money. Both are better teams than the Wild and offered a chance to win every year. Even more surprising was the fact that Pittsburgh offered both Parise and Suter long-term deals. This summer was the first time in years that the Pens had room under the salary cap to be so aggressive in free agency. I’m stunned that Parise didn’t sign with the Pens. Since Crosby came into the league it has been a challenge to find wingers that can keep up with him on the ice. The usual suspects that play with Crosby (Kunitz, Dupuis, Cooke) are hard workers but 20-goal guys at best. Parise would have been signed almost exclusively to play on a line with Crosby. Isn’t that every wingers dream? It’s not unrealistic to think he would have been a point-per game player while on a line with Crosby. If they had really clicked (like James Neil did with Malkin) the sky would have been the limit. The Pens are a better team than the Wild and would have offered Parise and Suter a chance to win the cup every single year, while playing alongside future hall of famers.
Shane Doan just re-signed with Phoenix. Again, rumour has it that Pittsburgh offered Doan a contract. I suppose that playing with Malkin and Crosby, two most of the most dominate players in the game just didn’t appeal to him either...
-Kirk Lougheed
I was shocked to hear that Jordan Staal had been traded from Pittsburgh to Carolina. I was further mystified to find out that he had been offered a long term deal by the Pens only to turn it down (rumour has it that it was 60 million over 10 years). Days after the trade to Carolina, Staal signed a long-term deal with them worth (surprise, surprise) 60 million over 10 years. Clearly, getting to play with his older brother Eric was a huge reason he signed the long term deal. He also made it clear that he wanted more ice time in order to play a bigger offensive role. Jordan no longer wanted to play second fiddle to Malkin and Crosby. However, Jordan showed that he cares far more about personal success (more ice time) and personal comfort (playing with his brother) than about winning. He rejected a team that has a chance to win the cup every single year to play for a team that hasn’t done much recently. If all he cared about was winning, he would gladly play second to Crosby and Malkin. He probably could have even demanded to play on a line with them...
We also saw the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter free agency sweep stakes. As free agents they had the legal right to sign with any team for any contract that was allowed under the current CBA. But again, we witnessed two players caring more about comfort than about winning cups. The biggest reason for the pair signing in Minnesota was apparently because of family ties in the area. Rumours abound that Philly and Chicago both offered Parise more money. Both are better teams than the Wild and offered a chance to win every year. Even more surprising was the fact that Pittsburgh offered both Parise and Suter long-term deals. This summer was the first time in years that the Pens had room under the salary cap to be so aggressive in free agency. I’m stunned that Parise didn’t sign with the Pens. Since Crosby came into the league it has been a challenge to find wingers that can keep up with him on the ice. The usual suspects that play with Crosby (Kunitz, Dupuis, Cooke) are hard workers but 20-goal guys at best. Parise would have been signed almost exclusively to play on a line with Crosby. Isn’t that every wingers dream? It’s not unrealistic to think he would have been a point-per game player while on a line with Crosby. If they had really clicked (like James Neil did with Malkin) the sky would have been the limit. The Pens are a better team than the Wild and would have offered Parise and Suter a chance to win the cup every single year, while playing alongside future hall of famers.
Shane Doan just re-signed with Phoenix. Again, rumour has it that Pittsburgh offered Doan a contract. I suppose that playing with Malkin and Crosby, two most of the most dominate players in the game just didn’t appeal to him either...
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