CRANBERRY TWP, PA (93.7 The Fan) – Sidney Crosby is honored again Tuesday, not for passing a career milestone, but once again for every part of his game.
NHL Players Association, by vote of its membership, awarded Crosby the ‘Most Complete Player’ in the game for a sixth consecutive season. The poll is completed by more than 650 NHL players across every team
“The fact that he’s been recognized by his peers, might be the highest compliment that any player can ever receive,” said Pens head coach Mike Sullivan. “These guys play with, and most of them against, him night in and night out and he’s earned that respect that he’s gotten from his peers, year in and year out.”
“That’s not something that is given to anyone. He earns that through his performance and how hard he competes out there.”
“It means a lot,” Crosby said. “Those are the guys you compete against every night. Those are the best compliments you could have is from the people you compete against every night, so it means a lot.”
Crosby wasn’t even aware of the honor when we talked to him after practice. That’s because two days before the final game of a disappointing season, the 37-year-old was one of the first out to practice and one of the last to skate off the ice. Not for the recognition, rather because he believes it’s the right thing to do.
“You have to have pride in what you are doing, no matter what it is,” Crosby said. “As much as there are frustrations or it’s tough and difficult, in the big scheme of things we are fortunate to do what we do.”
“It’s not anything that is given. You got to do it every single today. Today is an opportunity to get better. We got to go out there and be professionals about it.”
“They don’t really make guys like him anymore,” said defenseman Ryan Shea. “The best thing we can do is hop on the train. We see him go out early, that makes you want to tie your skates even quicker to get out there.”
“He controls everything with his power to set himself up for success. That’s a lot easier said than done. There are a not a lot of guys that are willing to go to that level of detail and commitment to do that. That’s one of the things that separates him from any other athlete that I’ve been around.”
His coach isn’t the only one who recognizes it, those that put on the same uniform do.
In the players’ poll he was also voted tops in two other categories
· ‘If you need to win a faceoff, who would you pick?’
· ‘Who is the smartest overall player?’