Crosby says Zetterberg most competitive player he ever faced as pro

[kickazz 5,459]

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2015/10/04/Pittsburgh-Penguins-Sidney-Crosby-s-will-to-win-is-in-his-genes/stories/201510040068

Typical Crosby praise interview but he singles out Zberg (and Forseberg) as his most intense competition as a pro.

“It’s pretty feisty [play­ing against them],” he said. “At times, pretty in­tense. Those guys are guys you re­ally go head-to-head against [as a cen­ter], tak­ing face­offs. “You see them all game, all over the ice. It’s not like a de­fen­se­man you might have a cou­ple of rushes against, or maybe you’re in the cor­ner with him the odd time. You play the same po­si­tion, and you’re go­ing up against him ev­ery shift.” Pre­dict­ably, Crosby ap­pre­ci­ates the way guys like Zet­ter­berg go all-in ev­ery time they hop over the boards.

[HelmFan 84]

He had a better chance to say that in the '08 final.

[Richdg 267]

Not a surprise to us RW fans. Z is an average athlete with great heart/comtete levels which is what has made him a star.

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

It took you this long to figure that out?

[number9 3,297]

Not a surprise to us RW fans. Z is an average athlete with great heart/comtete levels which is what has made him a star.

[vladdy16 2,154]

I think that post was more of the "That was an average save" sarcastic type than disparaging the prowess of The Beard.

At least that's what I choose to believe.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

I don't know if I would use the term average, but I agree with the premise. Z isn't big, doesn't skate particularly well and never possessed high-end skill like Pav.

That's not a knock on Z by any means -- I think that's why so many of us love him (myself included). He really does compete at a level that I have seen few athletes match.

Edited October 5, 2015 by GoWings1905

[kickazz 5,459]

Apparently all you have to be is an average player to become the captain of one of the most successful organizations in sports history.

I don't know if I would use the term average, but I agree with the premise. Z isn't big, doesn't skate particularly well and never possessed high-end skill like Pav.

Here's my thing on this matter. What is high end skill? Flashyness? I don't think you can compare The Beard to The Magician. They both have very different styles of play. And both excel in their own individual ways, especially in their primes.

[number9 3,297]

Pretty sure it takes more than being an average athlete and competitiveness to score 786 pts in the NHL by age 34. But hey, that's just me.

[Barrie 900]

I would agree. I keep hearing about how great Crosby is and I see the stats, but I only watch the Red Wings, and Crosby doesn't do much against the Wings. I assumed it's because Zetterberg is always shutting him down.

[kickazz 5,459]

I would agree. I keep hearing about how great Crosby is and I see the stats, but I only watch the Red Wings, and Crosby doesn't do much against the Wings. I assumed it's because Zetterberg is always shutting him down.

Aye but Glendog is now our shutdown forward over Z.

Times are changing

Edited October 5, 2015 by kickazz

[Barrie 900]

Aye but Glendog is now our shutdown forward over Z.

Times are changing

And that's a good thing!

[ami 273]

who cares what cindy says?

what counts is what he does when he faces z's competition...

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Not surprising.