Ask Adam: One-track mind
Sidney Crosby has five points in four games since his latest return from injury and has 24 goals and 72 points this season. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/NHLI via Getty Images)
Adam Proteau
2008-04-04 13:02:05
After an April Fools Day semi-hiatus, we’re back with a normal edition of your wonderings and my replies. We begin with a gentleman who seems somewhat confused by my last mailbag column.
Adam,
In your last mailbag, you wrote: "As a general rule, I always trust government institutions to tell me and my fellow citizens the truth. Politicians and political bodies never ever allow the interests of industry leaders or monopolies to undermine what's best for the public."
Adam – are you 11 years old or really that naive? Governments act in the best interest of their citizens? I laughed out loud when I read your response. Ever heard of the tobacco industry? Or maybe the price of gas rings a bell, no – still nothing? Let's see – the Iraq war? Just thought you could use an update concerning the world around you.
Chad, Edmonton
Chad,
I suppose you never got down to the bottom of that column before writing; if you had – or if you’ve read any of my writing prior to Tuesday – I’m sure you’d have realized the joke.
But don’t worry; you’re not the only sarcasm-challenged reader out there (this means you, Fred C. in Montreal). Just thought you could use an update on the hockey journalism world around you.
Adam,
Have any of the NHL's GMs considered a conditional no-trade clause for players? It would essentially say if a player records X number of points, they can't be traded; but if they fail to reach the target, they're fair game.
As much as I enjoy watching the Leafs writhe in agony (go Habs!), I feel such a contract would have allowed them to be free of Darcy Tucker and Bryan McCabe. Those players would have nobody to blame but themselves for sucking their way out of their no-trade clause.
Chad, Shenandoah, Pa.
Chad,
Finally, a Chad who makes some sense! I like this idea a lot, though I don’t know that very many agents – particularly the ones who have an honest sense of their clients’ abilities – will be overly thrilled by it. But your suggestion does show there are more creative ways to dole out NTCs, and I hope GMs follow your lead.
If they can’t - or won’t - the league ought to ban them altogether during the next collective bargaining agreement. (The NTCs, not the GMs – don’t want another angry email from Chad in Edmonton.)
Hey Adam,
Just wondering which of the Mike Lange-isms you think will win the NCAA-style tournament I'm running on my blog, Going Five Hole.
Sean Leahy, North Babylon, N.Y.
Sean,
Hilarious stuff, especially for a longtime Lange fan like me. I’m torn between “Look out Loretta,” “He doesn’t know whether to cry or wind his watch,” and “She wants to sell my monkey!”
I think I’m going with selling the monkey, because there are some non-sports interpretations of that line that make me giggle uncontrollably. Thanks for the laughs.
Dear Adam,
Is Sidney Crosby the best player of all-time? Judging by how the hockey media portrays him, he is.
I'm sick of this Crosby propaganda. If the NHL wants to attract more American fans they need to promote all of its stars, not just one, who is injury prone. What do you think?
Jeff Evkovich, Welland, Ont.
Jeff,
I’ve written earlier this year about the need for the league to push more players than just Crosby, but I don’t harbor any ill will towards Sidney because of the hype that follows him everywhere he goes.
I don’t know you can say he’s injury-prone at this point in his career, but there’s no doubt his lengthy absence this season should’ve served as a warning shot across the bow of the league’s marketing ship.
Judging by the mania currently surrounding Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals’ chase for a playoff berth, it’s clear hockey fans are happy to spread the adulation around. The challenge for the NHL is to extend the spotlight past those two young stars, and into every corner of the league.
Ask Adam appears Tuesdays and Fridays only on The Hockey News.com. To send us your question or comment, click HERE.
Adam Proteau is The Hockey News' online columnist and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog appears Mondays and Wednesdays and his column, Screen Shots, appears Thursdays.
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Jim Mac Aulay (Posted 2008-04-07 05:47:18)
1. Is Sydney Crosby over-hyped? Yes, but he probably deserves it. Is he the greatest player of all time? Not until his record eclipses Bobby Oee. Think Orr's career was too short and favour Gretzky? You just selected Gordie Howe.
2. No-Trade clauses are not Toronto's problem, but it is inept management. "What they've got', per se, is not the problem, - it's what theyve missed or lost for the past 40 years. What have they got to show for Tukla Rask, Brad Boyes, Stevie Sullivan, Frederick Modin? Carry that right back to all the young defence they gave up in the early 70s, - Joel Quenville, Jim Dorey, etc., etc., etc. They've made MAYBE two good trades in 40 years and lost more talent on waivers while protecting worn out trash than a land fill.
3. The worst homer, three plays behind the sction, play by play man in the league is Bob Cole. He misses most of the action and is still discussing a meaningless foray over one team's blue line when the puck has been lost, play reversed, and the action has crossed the other blue line. It's a role he inheirited from Bill Hewitt. But, given Leaf management, they get what they deserve.
John (Posted 2008-04-07 03:36:53)
Bruce must be a Flyers fan. Crosby's an effective player and outside of that who cares - enough with the sour grapes. He didn't ask for the attention, but he's got it and handles it well.
What I can't figure out is these local broadcasts where they don't seem to realize that there's another team on the ice or that there's a league outside of their local market. Why not focus on the star players in upcoming games and the upcoming individual matchups with the local team to build some anticipation?
Steve Byus (Posted 2008-04-06 12:26:00)
I take exception to several people on this blog saying Sidney is over-rated or doesn't deserve the hype that surrounds his young life. Remember back if you can when you were 19 do you think you could handle twenty plus players need for leadership, with guys that are at times 10 years your senior. Think about the place you work and one of the youngest newest faces coming and commanding the respect Sidney has amongst his teammates. If you questions his leadership you shouldn't watch the Penguins. I am not a specific fan of the team but there is magic in the atmosphere around that team that I remember the NY Islanders having and the Edmonton Oilers having. This team is destined for great things so stop worrying about what the commentators are saying and enjoy the history they are making. BTW, I still can't listen to Gary Thorne or Bill Clement (or John Madden for that matter) call a game but I do have a mute button on my remote. If you are a sports fan you know that commentators jump on band wagon's of all good to great players. Sidney is selling tickets in Pittsburgh and everywhere they play that is his true success in his career. The more tickets they sell the more hockey will be on TV, in the newspapers and on the radio and if that means I have to listen to some commentator talk about how great Sidney, Patrick Kane or even Ollie Jokinen is, so be it, it is a small price to pay for the good of the game no matter where you live.
cb (Posted 2008-04-05 22:13:43)
well, ive seen it all. hart trophy? check. ross trophy? check. youngest captain in league history? check. single handedly responsible for turning one of the most inept teams into a contender? check. absolutely electrifying playmaking ability? check. doing all this with every eye in the hockey world on him? check. but no. hes CLEARLY overrated ::rolls eyes::
Jessica (Posted 2008-04-05 17:25:18)
I think your both wrong. Sidney Crosby is the best player in the NHL right now, and most likely he's only going to get better. He deserves all the "hype" because ...well...hes the best player in the NHL right now, and most likely he's only going to get better. Yet there is one thing that I agree with you, Malkin is one of the best players in the NHL right now, and considering he deserves alot more "hype", just as much as Sidney.
Bruce (Posted 2008-04-05 13:43:37)
Banning no-trade clauses just seems a fashionable thought at this point. If it had been, say, the Islanders instead of the Leafs that had handcuffed themselves in such a foolishly short-sighted manner, we wouldn't even be having this discussion. Nobody really held a gun to managements head to sign all of those no-trade claused contracts in Toronto. Further, do we really want to insert more wedge issues between the players' association and the owners in the next upcoming CBA negotiation???? Seems foolish to me.
Crosby, Crosby, Crosby. Seems everybody is sick of the hype but it never ends...at least not while Pierre McGuire is wearing a mic. Crosby may not even be the best player on his own team. If I was captain in a pick-up pond game, I'd probably choose Malkin first. If it was not a pick-up game but actually a situation where leadership counted, well, I would still look elsewhere. Crosby is highly skilled offensively and he is obviously very intense. It's a stretch to say that he's 'injury-prone' but at his size and build, it's hard to say how long he can hold up unless the league is going to institute even more 'Crosby rules' to protect him from hits. Given his somewhat less than classy demeanor on the ice, opposing players are not eer going to get tired of running him...
What I want to know is this...Show of hands: how many people really think that Jarko Ruutu really belongs in the NHL? Ok...between Sidney, Ruutu and Orpik I propose that we rename Pittsburgh to 'Punk City'....
Mike (Posted 2008-04-04 15:29:38)
I just wanted to say that I agree with Jeff. I almost can't stand watching a Penguins game because the commentators go on about Sidney...even when he's doing absolutely nothing. Granted he is a skilled and extremely talented player, however, I think there are others who are just as, if not more exciting and well rounded than he is. Look at other major sports, they have many big stars with whom the general public is familiar. The NHL needs to market a wide range players, from the goal scorers, to the leaders, to the "tough guys". The necessity of this is only compounded by the star-crazed US. Living in the greater Boston area, hockey is relatively popular, and that is definitely on the rise, partially because of the good media attention the Bruins are starting to receive. Hockey will never be in the US what it is in Canada, but solid marketing and a multi-faceted approach could go a long way towards the furtherance of the game we all love.
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