| Sign Up | Google+
 

Buy or Sell: Sidney Crosby on the hotseat

Stay connected for news and updates

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 21: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates with teammate Marc-Andre Fleury #29 after his first goal of the season in the first period against Anders Nilsson #45 of the New York Islanders during the game on November 21, 2011 at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Crosby has not played a game since January 5th after sustaining a concussion. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Via NHL.com, profiling the one player on every team that's on the proverbial "hot seat":

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins -- Few people will dispute that when he's healthy, Crosby is the best player in hockey. The challenge for No. 87 as he enters his age-25 season is twofold: He has to show that he's capable of playing a full season at his usual high level after missing all but 22 games since Jan. 5, 2011 -- and he and the Penguins will have to prove they can mesh again after last spring's playoff debacle. A healthy Crosby integrated into the lineup could be the difference between a playoff team and a Cup winner.

I would sell. While it's hard to disagree with any of the analysis presented, when I think "hot seat", I think "dude who better shape up or he's in trouble". Sidney Crosby, he of the new 13 year contract, has never been more secure as a Penguin. Even if Crosby doesn't play in a full season, he's still going to be regarded the same way he is now.

Marc-Andre Fleury might be a better candidate for the hot seat. Fleury still has three years left on his contract, and no one wants to acquire a goalie on the down-swing, so it's not so much that he's a trade risk, as to establishing himself as a franchise goalie. And after a legitimately great regular season (42 wins, .913 save %, 2.36 GAA) it all crumbled in the playoffs.

And what's making the seat hot is how the Pens have played this off-season, acquiring and signing veteran goalie Tomas Vokoun to a two-year contract. Vokoun is a netminder who's played in at least 44 games every year since the lockout and has six out of seven seasons with a .919+ save percentage. Fleury's seat is hot, because if he's not sharp, for really the first time in his NHL career, he's not going to be playing.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Recent Posts

There are 42 Comments. Load Now. Loading

Shortcuts to mastering the comment thread. Use wisely.

C - Next Comment
X - Mark as Read

R - Reply
Z - Mark Read & Next

Shift + C - Previous
Shift + A - Mark All Read

Comment Settings

Live comment alert: Hide it!

Comments for this post are closed.

tracking_pixel_5351_tracker