(Pittsburgh) Sidney Crosby knows a thing or two about what it’s like to be the next phenom in the hockey world.
The hype. Attention. Pressure. It can all be difficult to manage for a young 18-year-old player, regardless of his talent, motivation and concentration.
“Sid the Kid” was not yet 18 years old when the Penguins selected him first overall in the 2005 draft. The organization and the city of Pittsburgh set the bar very high, and he delivered.
Stanley Cups. A brand new arena in the city center. A regional transformation that made western Pennsylvania a hockey hotbed. While being the face of the team he revitalized one game, one pass, one goal and one point at a time.
When Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard skates at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday night and sees Crosby on the other side, he won’t just be seeing the player he idolized. He will see a mentor who knows very well the road that Bedard will take over the next six months, and possibly the next 16 years.
“I think he’s more than ready now,” Crosby said of Bedard. He’s had to live with expectations for a while now. He’s just ready to get started and put this all behind him. You can recognize yourself in a situation like that. »
Crosby, at the very least, can relate to Bedard’s journey, even if the two-time Hart Trophy winner and future Hall of Famer doesn’t want to relive the past too much.
Crosby, 36, understands that he is no longer the child prodigy he once was. That he has played more matches than he has left to play. That one day he will have to pass the baton as the most famous player. Maybe Connor McDavid. Maybe Connor Bedard. Maybe to another prodigy who will play hockey after being inspired by the number 87.
Don’t be fooled by the few gray hairs that are starting to grow on Crosby’s head. Even though the league is starting to be littered with the “next Sidney Crosbys,” Version 1.0 remains very determined to prove that the fire burns just as brightly at the start of his 19e season than in its premiere.
Crosby had 33 goals and 93 points in 82 games last season, his offensive production one of the only constants during a roller coaster season for the Penguins. The team actually missed the playoffs for the first time in 17 seasons.
Crosby took much of the blame, a typical move from a player who had the “C” embroidered on his chest before he was even legally allowed to drink alcohol in Pittsburgh.
Bedard, who has crossed paths with his idol a few times in his life, knows that this responsibility will fall on him one day. Maybe sooner rather than later.
“He’s a very good role model for everyone, the way he behaves on and off the ice,” Bédard said. He has been in the spotlight for almost 20 years now and seems to have handled the situation so well. It’s very easy to get inspired by it, and I always do. »
Crosby practically rolled his eyes when asked if he was going to teach Bedard a thing or two. However, he is ready to set an example by proving that he is not overwhelmed and that he can still make a difference in the NHL.
“If the kid is heralded as the best, what a great opportunity it is to compete against him,” Crosby said. That’s why you love the chance to play in the NHL and do it every night. This is why I get up in the morning. »