CROSBY’S DEFENSE UNDERAPPRECIATED
The only competition-based NHL award that Sidney Crosby lacks is the Selke Trophy, and his general manager, Jim Rutherford, thinks Crosby deserves consideration for it.
“He will never get recognized for the Selke because everybody views him as an offensive player; he leads the league in scoring,” Rutherford told USA TODAY Sports. “But he could be (in contention) if people focused on that part of his game.”
The Selke Trophy is given annually by hockey writers to the forward who shows the most skill as a defender.
The attention is on Crosby’s point-generating prowess these days. He went into Thursday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche needing two points to become the fastest player to reach 1,000 career points in 17 years.
Crosby, 29, was aiming to reach the milestone in his 754th game, which would have made him the youngest to register 1,000 points since Jaromir Jagr hit did it just before his 29th birthday in December 2000.
In terms of games needed to reach 1,000, Crosby, leading the NHL in goals (30) and points (60) going into Thursday, had a chance to become the fastest since Steve Yzerman reached 1,000 points in 737 games in 1993. Jagr did it in 764 games.
“The scoring tear (Crosby is) on and still a good defensive player — that’s impressive,” Detroit Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg said.
Lost in the celebration of Crosby’s offensive achievements has been his work to become a complete, three-zone player.
“I thought his defensive play is probably what he has improved the most since he got into the league,” Zetterberg said. “Now he’s playing a 200-foot game and doing it well.”
Zetterberg has matched up against Crosby often through the years, including in 2008 and 2009, when they faced each other in the Stanley Cup Final in backto-back seasons.
Known for his two-way ability, Zetterberg said it’s natural for offensively gifted young players to be deficient defensively when they arrive in the NHL because they never really needed that side of their game.
“(Crosby) is such a smart play- er,” Zetterberg said. “He picked it right up.”
New Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero, formerly Crosby’s general manager in Pittsburgh, said Crosby, who has a 53.6 Corsi rating, has deserved Selke consideration for some time.
“When you want to lock down a game, you want him out there,” Shero said. “No. 1, he is great on faceoffs, and he’s strong defensively. He’s hard. He’s tough.”
Although Crosby’s faceoff numbers have dipped below 50% this season, he is a career 51.5% faceoff performer.
It’s Crosby’s competitiveness that helped transform him into an improved defensive player.
“He plays the 200-foot game, and he doesn’t cheat,” Rutherford said. “That’s what I’ve seen since I’ve been here. He comes all the way back deep and helps out, and then our offense starts from deep within our defensive zone. And he gets just as many chances as the guys who cheat.”
It’s not as if Crosby has made himself into a checker. “I think his best defensive skill is his offense,” Zetterberg said. “Most of the time he has the puck, and it’s tough to get it out of him. He’s so strong, and he reads the play really well.”
Although Crosby has two Stanley Cup championships, it would be another line on his résumé if he could lead the Penguins to the first back-to-back titles in the NHL since the Red Wings won in 1997 and 1998.
“Individual recognition is fantastic, but, knowing Sid, there’s only one trophy that counts for him right now,” Shero said.