"Since the Great One and Super Mario began re-writing NHL records 20 years ago, hockey pundits and fans have been looking out for The Next One. It's too early to tell if he will reach those great heights, but Sidney Crosby of the Rimouski Oceanic certainly has the hype." — TSN.ca, on top NHL prospect Sidney Crosby
"But we've heard about phenoms like this before, right? We all remember can't-miss prospects like Mike Ricci, Eric Lindros, Alexandre Daigle, and Jason Spezza, so how will Crosby fare? Is he the game's next superstar?" — TSN.ca, a few sentences later on the same webpage.
So along with delusions of grandeur and divine intervention, teenage hockey phemom Sidney Crosby evidently also inspires schizophrenia.
It's understandable. Some fans and media have put more faith in this kid (D.O.B.: Aug 7, 1987) to save the National Hockey League than in whatever collective bargaining agreement the players and owners hatch.
Is he that good? It doesn't matter at this point, because the perception of his ability and predestined star power is what matters. It's a potential that has fans salivating at the prospect of a league-wide draft lottery that would determine which team lands Crosby. And it's a potential that has the media wondering how this potential superstar could best help hockey ... by playing for one of its most needy and necessary franchises.
Here's Alan Hahn in Newsday, asking if there's any way the league might "adjust" the draft to get Sidney in a Rangers' uniform:
In saying this, the NHL might consider taking a page from NBA draft legend — remember Patrick Ewing and the "frozen" Knicks lottery card in 1985? — and ensure that the Rangers win so they can land the ultra-marketable Crosby, a junior hockey star dubbed the "Next One" who is drawing LeBron James parallels and already has a lucrative endorsement deal with Reebok.A Reebok executive recently said the Rangers are the ideal team for Crosby, Reebok, and the NHL.
One NHL agent who doesn't represent Crosby said the league should take every step it can to place Crosby in New York, where the league hasn't had real celebrity buzz since Wayne Gretzky retired.
"If they don't," the agent said, "then they're dumber than we all thought they were."
Personally, I don't think Crosby in NYC would be the best scenario for the NHL. But I was more interested in finding out why someone else thought it was. So I've enlisted the help of Derek Felix, a freelance writer for NYSportsDay.com and a contributor to a book about the Detroit Red Wings by hockey writer Stan Fischler. He's an unabashed Rangers fan, and I think it's very big of me as a Devils fan to give up this much column space to the enemy. (Typically, our warring factions are like Republicans and Democrats, but without the civility.)
Felix up first, Wyshynski with the rebuttal. May the best fan win...
Why the NHL Needs Sidney Crosby On Broadway
By Derek Felix
I know. I know. I can hear the 'conspiracy theorists' kicking and screaming a mile away. Sidney Crosby a Ranger. These fans will have you believe the NHL will fix the draft lottery (and there will be one once the new CBA is announced) so that he winds up on Broadway.
I'm here to tell you critics and cynics that if they get him, it will be because they were one of the worst teams over the past few years, making it legitimate. The Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets are two of the teams who should have a decent shot of landing the 17-year-old phenom. If the league really wanted to fix the draft, he'd wind up in Detroit, Colorado, Philadelphia, Dallas, Toronto, or even Ottawa, Tampa Bay, or New Jersey. Those teams have been very successful in recent years, which is why they should be excluded from landing Crosby because they don't need him.
What I do believe to be true is that if Crosby became a Ranger, he would be going to the largest media market in The States. The Rangers have missed the playoffs seven years running. Luckily for them, the '04-05 season never was played because make no mistake about it, in the kind of condition they were in, it would have been an embarrassing eighth-straight year of booking tee times in April.
For the naysayers who can't stand the thought of Crosby landing in New York, I have some advice: don't read the rest of this column.
But in the event you opt to, have your boxes of Kleenex ready!
The NHL, more than ever, needs Mr. Crosby to be drafted by the Rangers and save this dead Original Six franchise. For the league to regain instant credibility in America, Crosby centering the Rangers' top line — with, say, Jaromir Jagr — would be a huge draw. You think the top Canadian junior player couldn't handle it? Think again. We're talking about a cool, calm, and collected 17-year-old who was born to carry the torch and restore order to a dying league.
Crosby isn't a cocky kid like Alexandre Daigle, who never cared one iota about fulfilling expectations. Crosby is a nice-looking young man who has prepared himself well for the future. He doesn't blink when asked questions but instead, rolls with the punches and gives thoughtful responses. Such maturity for a teenager with the weight of a country and the balance of a league on his collective shoulders are big reasons why he will be successful.
Indeed, he can handle himself.
Imagine playing under the bright lights in the city that never sleeps at The World's Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden. Lately, that has changed to World's Most Dead Arena. That is why Crosby must fly on the ice for the Rangers. He can bring back disenchanted season ticket holders who tossed in the towel long ago. He can pack the house and make it sound the way the building did in 1994 when the team finally broke a 54-year Stanley Cup drought. Ironically, the league was on top of the mountain during that time.
People might point to Jagr. But what else do the Rangers, a team the NHL needs to have success, to draw fans back? That will make fans flock to the arena?
Bobby Holik? Who's coming to watch his ugly grinding style?
Tom Poti? I've seen women that hit harder.
Jamie Lundmark? Once deemed a future star, he'll be lucky if he makes it as a third liner.
Michael Nylander? Can you say overpaid, small, and aging center without yelling?
Mike Dunham? Are you kidding?
Darius Kasparaitis? He can throw some decent hits, but that's about it.
Fedor Tjutin and Maxim Kondratiev? Tjutin looked good in his initial Ranger stint as a 20-year-old. Kondratiev was acquired from the Maple Leafs as part of the Brian Leetch deal. Both will be decent two-way defensemen (imagine that Ranger fans) but neither will be a franchise player.
If you combine these players with the Dom Moore's, Garth Murray's, Alexandre Giroux's, Jed Ortmeyer's, Ryan Hollweg's, Chad Wiseman's, Bryce Lampman's, and Jason LaBarbera's who starred at Hartford, this is what will likely comprise of the Ranger roster. Barring a couple of free agent signings depending on how much cap room the team will have to spend. Don't bank on any big superstars coming here given the team's current state.
This roster doesn't exactly strike me as entertaining. Who is going to MSG to watch this bunch? A diehard like myself will be there because I have wanted to see the team rebuild since the Dolans created this mess. However, realistically, this team would be lucky to get 60 points. And I guarantee there would be plenty of empty seats. Haven't Ranger fans gotten sick of the increase in Devil, Islander, and Flyer fans that have stormed the Garden making it an adopted home. Before those fans get annoyed, you couldn't find a ticket on the street back in '97 when the Rangers were playoff bound.
What a player of Sidney Crosby's caliber could do for the Rangers would be remarkable. He could make them the team to see again because I can tell you right now, nobody is going to watch the maxed out Knicks. Talk about the definition of dull and overpaid.
Crosby playing with Jagr would be worth the price of admission. Fans would finally have a reason to get out of their seats. And we don't mean to purchase another beer or to leave after the first period. The Rangers would finally have a real first line centered by a future superstar from the beginning of his career.
If you stuck Crosby on the top line, Holik, Nylander and Moore could center the other units. Suddenly, the Rangers wouldn't look that bad down the middle. The lines could be more balanced, which would take pressure off the supporting cast because they could ease into their roles.
Would there be pressure on the kid? Without a doubt! The intense scrutiny would be immense. But I think this kid would thrive under it. He has the right personality and approach. He's got character and a smile that will light up the sky.
During a feature on second-year Heat teammate Dwyane Wade that aired on TNT's pre-game before Pistons/Heat Game 7, Shaq made a valid point about what a superhero is. He refers to Wade as "Flash" because of how cool he is on the court. What he said was that superheroes are usually quiet and reserved out of the spotlight. But when they're conducting themselves in their surroundings, a super quality comes out which defines why they're cool.
I see the same thing with Crosby. Imagine what kind of nickname they would give him in New York.
Not only would it be super if the wiz kid wound up here, but the endorsements and potential sponsors that would come crawling back to the league when it starts up again would be overwhelming. With a league that's a year removed from one of the darkest periods in sports history, this kind of attention and money is exactly what it needs to comeback strong. Marketing this player is not just essential to the league's survival but to its prosperity. Here in New York, there's no better place for a kid of this magnitude to lace up the skates. You think networks won't be scrambling to try to get a piece of the action?
If he doesn't wind up a Ranger, other suitable places could be Edmonton or Montreal. Imagine what Crosby would do for one of those struggling Canadian franchises. Under the old rules, neither club could compete seriously for a Cup. If you looked at both rosters, they don't have a franchise center like Sid. Imagine Crosby bringing back the glory days in Edmonton, reminding Oiler fans of another quiet superstar named Gretzky. That would be instant credibility for Western Canada and a real shot in the arm for Canada. Imagine the hometown kid plays for his favorite team up in Montreal. The Molson Centre would turn into the old Forum and the game would explode financially up north. This would be a welcome sight.
Other places that could be good fits are Chicago, Los Angeles, Anaheim, or Columbus.
The Blackhawks have been an awful franchise for a while. Though they saw the playoffs a few years ago, this once proud Original Six franchise hasn't had the kind of team a once diehard hockey city could wrap their arms around. With cheapskate Bill Wirtz running the franchise into the ground, a player like Crosby could make the Blackhawks a legit playoff contender again. Team him with Tuomo Ruutu and one of the NHL's biggest markets would be alive and well again.
The Kings were a decent playoff team not too long ago. But severe concussions to Jason Allison and Adam Deadmarsh damaged the team's future. In a fairly new arena at Staples Center, the Kings could use Crosby. Imagine the endorsements he could get in a large market such as LA.
Ditto for struggling franchise Anaheim. Only two years ago, led by Jean-Sebastien Giguere, the Ducks had a miracle run to the Cup finals before losing in seven to the Devils. Now, the franchise finds itself with a new owner and a lot of uncertainty. Sergei Fedorov is still with the team. But other than him, there really isn't much to get excited about. In order for Anaheim to survive, they could use a player such as Crosby to attract new fans.
I know what you'll say. Why would Columbus, Ohio be a good spot for the game's next great star? Enter Rick Nash, soon to be the game's most dominant power forward. And enter Nikolai Zherdev, soon to be a rising star who will light scoreboards up. Put Crosby with these two and you have a super trio who would bring instant credibility to the Blue Jackets franchise. Already one of Gary Bettman's best expansion teams in recent history due to the outpouring of support from fans, getting Crosby would make this a playoff team and a force to be reckoned with in the future.
Two other franchises which could use a boost are the Penguins and Capitals. Both did well in last year's draft with the Caps drafting Alexander Ovechkin first overall and the Pens landing Evgeni Malkin second. However, considering how both have fared recently, it wouldn't be bad if Crosby landed in either city. The MCI Center had been dead for a while, but they came crawling back when the Wizards finally won a playoff series. They'd do the same thing if Crosby teamed up with Ovechkin in the nation's capital.
Pittsburgh has struggled financially for years. Rumored to be getting a new owner, this franchise is in desperate need of a superstar who could do for it what Mario Lemieux once did. Hockey roots are strong in this city and it would be a shame if they lost their team. But if Crosby wound up there teamed with Malkin, they would be saved.
So, the question is where will he wind up? Hopefully for the NHL, it will either be in a market that can take advantage of what Crosby has to offer or a franchise that desperately needs him, which is what the lottery should do.
Why The NHL Doesn't Need Sidney Crosby On Broadway
By Greg Wyshynski
Look deep inside your hearts and minds, hockey fans. Listen to that little voice that accompanies each and every thought you have about Sidney Crosby, the prodigy/savior/sure-thing No. 1 prospect who's received more messianic coverage than HDTV from the hockey media.
What does that little voice keep mumbling, over and over and over again?
"Please don't turn out to be Alex Daigle ... please don't turn out to be Alex Daigle."
Daigle, the top pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, went from "The Next One" to "The Bust" quicker than you can say Ryan Sittler. Now a role player for the Minnesota Wild, he had been promoted as the next Lemieux or Lindros — who knew they were actually talking about Jocelyn and Brett?
But in a way, Crosby is already Daigle. He's a mercilessly lauded prospect whose minor league exploits have earned him lofty comparisons and even higher standards to meet as a pro. He's been viewed not just as a player, but as a marketing cure-all. Daigle was the same kind of promotional linchpin the eyes of both the Ottawa Senators, who drafted him, and the Quebec Nordiques, who nearly traded up to draft him with an offer of star center Joe Sakic. A French-Canadian born in Montreal, Daigle was intended to be the ultimate draw for a team like Ottawa — attractive to both the French-speaking and English-speaking factions of the capital's population. Unfortunately, no matter how you translate 74 goals in 301 games, it still comes out as "journeyman."
Crosby is now being billed as the ultimate draw for one lucky team, and perhaps for the entire league. He's LeBron James on skates. Dwight Gooden with a stick. Michael Vick, only with more accurate passing. And there seems to be some sentiment that he shouldn't be "wasted," such as LeBron has been seemingly "wasted" in Cleveland, toiling for two seasons outside of the playoff spotlight while David Stern is stuck trying to pimp Tim Duncan vs. Pistons on a fan base that still has memories of Air Jordan flying through their minds.
According to some, to waste Crosby would be to place him anywhere but in Madison Square Garden and with its hockey tenants, the New York Rangers. The problem with the Rangers isn't gate — they were ninth overall in the league in 2003-04 with 18,003 home fans per game and fourth in road attendance with 17,011. The problem has been that they've been awful, the league needs them strong, and Crosby could be the catalyst to a Broadway revival.
I'm not going to argue that the NHL doesn't need a playoff-caliber Rangers team. It sure as hell does. As a Devils fan, I miss those nights spent scanning the ticker to see if the hated Rag$ had lost their game. But they've lost so often in the last decade, they've become neutered as a viable draw. The league has lost its greatest Big Bad. It's like on the old 1960s Batman series, when you'd tune in to see The Joker and get Bookworm instead.
But do the Rangers need Sidney Crosby, and does the NHL need Sidney Crosby in New York?
No, and probably no.
A good Rangers team is going to revitalize those old rivalries and bring back those apathetic fans whom jumped ship after that sixth year without a playoff appearance. Crosby could be the means to that end — so could sound management, a strong farm system, and better personnel decisions. (Isn't it depressing, Rangers friends, that an 17-year-old kid is more of a sure thing than the latter?) I'm scared to death that adding Crosby to the chronically mismanaged Rangers does nothing but make him even more of the LeBron James of hockey — a formidable draw during the regular season who'll need to buy a ticket to get into the postseason. If that's the case, then Crosby would truly be wasted.
Even if Sid goes to MSG and turns things around, it'll still be "The Rangers and superstar Sidney Crosby." Put him in Chicago — another embarrassment of an Original Six franchise — and it would be "Sidney Crosby and the Blackhawks." A successful Rangers team automatically becomes larger than life; a successful Blackhawks team is still playing in the shadow of Detroit and Colorado. Add Crosby to a winning team in Chicago, and they become the biggest draw in the Western Conference.
Oh, and there's that little subplot about the Stanley Cup, too. As in the fact that the Blackhawks haven't won the damn thing since 1961. There has been exactly three times in the last 30 years in which hockey transcended its niche status and spilled over into the mainstream: The Miracle on Ice, the Gretzky trade, the Rangers' Cup in 1994. The greatest fallacy floating around these days is "Solidify the Rangers, Save the NHL," which is solely based on the fact that in '94, the sport seemed poised to make a run into the top three in the States and the Rangers' run to the Cup was the reason. That was a unique moment in time, one that can't be recreated in New York (at least until 2048). But in Chicago, you have another major media market in another historic Cup drought. Bring in Crosby, bring Stanley to the Windy City, and you might see the same kind of popularity spike we saw in 1994.
It can be argued, of course, that the Blackhawks don't need Crosby any more than the Rangers, and simply need to "get better." I'm willing to buy that. So where else would Sidney work better than in MSG? (Apologies to our Canadian friends, but seriously: you guys don't think he's actually ending up Nord of da Border, do ye?)
Florida: Make Crosby the tent pole for the NHL's Plan for Southern Dominance. Get all of those South Beach celebrities in the arena to see The (Next) Great One, and then make sure they're on television as much as Jack Nicholson is at the Lakers games. The team is already loaded with promising offensive talent — add Sid to the mix, and those Panthers/Tampa games will become the hottest ticket in Florida since Space Mountain opened.
Los Angeles: This one's too easy. The last time the best player in hockey was added to the Kings, it opened up an expansion gold rush. L.A. is the league's No. 2 media market. If Crosby is what people say he is, we could have hockey in Vegas and Salt Lake City faster than you can say goodbye to the Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Buffalo: But only if they agree to flip back to the blue-and-yellows, and mass produce Sid replica jerseys A.S.A.P.
NY Islanders: Talk about killing two birds! Crank up the pathetic gate (13,431 home, 16,537 road) for the Isles, and get Crosby in New York. Or at least near New York. Okay, at least he'll be on the back page of Newsday. This could actually happen: remember that Gary Bettman grew up an Islanders fan, before he realized he was Satan's hellspawn and made it his life mission to bring misery to every hockey fan in North America. Or maybe we just want to keep Sidney as far away from New York as possible. Unless we want him to become Ed Whitson, Gregg Jefferies, or Blair Thomas.
I'm not going to deny there's something very sexy about putting Crosby on the Rangers and watching the New York media machine build him up. But the Rangers don't need him to become the Rangers again. And the NHL needs him too much to risk him getting destroyed by a Gotham media that isn't exactly a paradigm of forbearance, or getting bogged down on a franchise that hasn't had a winning season since 1997 and couldn't manage an Arby's without letting the roast beef spoil.
Greg Wyshynski is also a weekly columnist for SportsFan Magazine. His columns appear every Saturday on Sports Central. You can e-mail Greg at [email protected].
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