Is it beneficial in the long run for a team to lose a superstar for a small amount of time?
The Pittsburgh Penguins currently have 67 points and are in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference. They have also played their last 9 games without reigning NHL MVP Sidney Crosby. Crosby, widely regarded as the best player in the NHL, has missed the past few weeks with a high ankle injury. The Penguins are a young team with loads of talent, but they sometimes seem to rely on Crosby’s unbelievable skills a little too much. Since Crosby has been out, several players such as Evgeni Malkin, Ryan Malone and Ryan Whitney have stepped up their games and propelled the team to a 5-2-2 record. The question is if Crosby’s injury will ultimately make the Penguins a better team in the long run? When Crosby comes back, they are adding the best player in the league to a team who meshed and gelled when their captain was on the sidelines. I think, especially for such a young team, Crosby being out puts more responsibility on everyone else’s shoulders. Each player seems more responsible for their actions on the ice and they feel as though they can contribute and make pivotal plays to win a game. With Crosby, it is very easy to take a backseat and try and let the superstar do it all. I believe when Crosby comes back, the other players will continue playing with an increased intensity and the team will ultimately be a much tougher opponent having weathered a multi-month injury to their leader.
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