Sidney Crosby is probably the most media accessible star player in hockey history. He also spends much of his free time comforting kids at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, with zero fanfare.
If he wants to blow off a night of these idiotic all star festivities, I think it’s ok.– Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) February 3, 2024
Since Thursday, the NHL has been vibrating to the rhythm of its Stars in Toronto. The league’s top players are taking part in the various festivities organized by the NHL, culminating in the 3-on-3 duels this afternoon.
It all started on Thursday night, in fact, when the league held a draft to form the teams for the 3-on-3 clashes. We wanted to recreate the magic of the event, which had created some great moments in the past, but apart from Michael Bublé, who claimed to have consumed magic mushrooms, it was pretty… flat.
What we did notice was that Sidney Crosby wasn’t present for the draft. A young man named Ryan took his place to live the moment.
Meanwhile, Crosby was skating on a magnificent outdoor rink. The timing was a bit peculiar… but in general, nobody really paid attention.
Sidney Crosby skipped the NHL All-Star Draft to practice at the ODR in Big Sky Montana
(: chmarksiv/IG) pic.twitter.com/18kwIni8EX
– Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) February 2, 2024
Nobody ever criticizes Sidney Crosby. Everybody praises what he does for the game that we don’t see, and that’s fine, but why can all the players show up for the draft, and Crosby doesn’t show up and nobody cares? It drives me crazy. – Frank Seravalli
Frank’s Rant @frank_seravalli shares his opinion on Sidney Crosby’s actions on All-Star Weekend. @tyleryaremchuk
Presented by @WendysCanada https://t.co/PJNta8o4lu pic.twitter.com/uvIsuukjiG
– Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) February 2, 2024
eravalli continues his point by explaining that “if any other player did something like that, they’d be crucified in the public square” and even hints that Crosby’s “plane problems” last year were mostly an excuse not to show up and talk to the media.
Both guys’ points stand, but honestly, I feel like we’re dwelling on vulgar details here. Crosby may not be the biggest fan of the event… and you know what? That’s just fine.
If he were to publicly spit on the event, that would be something else, but I don’t really see the problem, personally. Alexander Ovechkin made fun of the draft a few years ago by wanting to be drafted last so he could get a new car, but that’s remembered as a funny moment and not as an affront to the league.
As Josh Yohe, who has covered Crosby and the Penguins for years, notes, Crosby is constantly involved in the community and is very accessible to the media. Is it really worth taking a shot at him for taking an extra day to appear at the All-Star Game? I don’t think so.
This excuse is constantly used when a player doesn’t want to talk about a sensitive subject and simply ignores the journalist, but Crosby kept his word and went to talk to him in private.
A reporter asked Sidney Crosby if there’s a problem with field hockey’s culture. Crosby said he didn’t think this huge scrum of “15-second soundbites” was a good venue for such a topic, and said he’d be happy to talk privately with the reporter after. Then he actually did. Good on him.
– Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) February 2, 2024
If you really want to pick on someone for their lack of involvement in the festivities, Justin Bieber (who didn’t give a damn Thursday night) and Nikita Kucherov (who gave an even bigger damn last night) make a lot more sense than Crosby, who simply took the day off to arrive later.
Their point isn’t crazy… but we’ll pass on the necessity aspect.
In Brief
– Speaking of the All-Star Game.
Justin Bieber has arrived to Scotiabank Arena for the @Rogers #NHLAllStar Game! pic.twitter.com/K8jDtvbO4B
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 3, 2024
– Of course he wasn’t going to miss the chance to tease his friend.
“Definitely taller than cole” pic.twitter.com/r72wAZVdOs
– carina (@goalcauf) February 3, 2024
– We should send him back to Laval, hehe.
Youppi! doesn’t have the best cardio among NHL mascotshttps://t.co/byoueRZ4Hx
– TVA Sports (@TVASports) February 3, 2024