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Crosby Has The Spotlight

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 24, 2008

Updated: 05/24/2008 12:22 am

Youthful names now rule the game.

The National Hockey League has been overrun with young talent in the post-lockout era. The poster boy for the new wave will be on the national stage starting tonight as the Stanley Cup finals open in Detroit with the Red Wings hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins.

While the Red Wings are led by 30-somethings Nicklas Lidstrom and Chris Osgood while still running 46-year-old Chris Chelios out on the ice, it's blissful innocence that has encapsulated Pittsburgh, a team led by the youngest captain in the league, Sidney Crosby.

Since Crosby was anointed The Next Great One when he was drafted first overall in the 2005 draft, "The Kid" hasn't disappointed. From his 100-point campaign as an 18-year-old rookie, an MVP and scoring title in his sophomore campaign to now leading the Penguins to the finals for the first time in 16 years.

With the weight of the league resting on his shoulders, Crosby has handled it all in stride. And his presence in the sport's biggest moment not only will enhance his already high profile, it also should bring the league more prominence on the national scene.

"I think it means a lot to the NHL," Pittsburgh general manager Ray Shero said Friday. "I think he is the face of the National Hockey League. He's proven it over the last two years. He's the face of the league through his play, but I think he's the face of the league through his actions as well.

"He's a great spokesperson for our franchise and the face of our franchise. When you have a player like that who is willing to give back to this league, and like many others in the league right now, I think it's a great thing.

"And I think it's a perfect stage for him, certainly in the third year of his young career, it's pretty quick, but I know he's ready for it. And I think it's great for the National Hockey League."

If Crosby has any jitters, he didn't tip his hand when sitting behind the podium Friday afternoon, a little more than 24 hours before playing in his first Stanley Cup finals, talking about the here and now instead of what has been or what will be.

"You just remind yourself that this is not something that comes along all the time, and we want to make sure that you don't think because you're young it's going to happen every year, every couple of years, whatever it may be," Crosby said. "It's a great opportunity to have, to take advantage of it."

Crosby hasn't done it alone, and he is not the youngest contributor on the team, either. The losing the Penguins endured this decade paved the way for high draft picks that landed Hart Trophy finalist Evgeni Malkin (2004 draft), goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (top pick in 2003), 19-year-old center Jordan Staal (2006) and defenseman Ryan Whitney (2002).

Needless to say, the rebuilding plan took shape a lot sooner than expected. That Crosby landed in the Penguins' lap following the post-lockout draft lottery, in which all 30 teams had an equal shot at winning the top pick, was the catalyst.

"Yeah, we're definitely ahead of schedule," said Shero, who took over as general manager in 2006. "Two years and the Stanley Cup finals. ... When I interviewed for the job in May of 2006, you're always looking at five-year plans and three-year plans and coming off 58 points, I think it's a testament for our coaches and players and the work that former general manager Craig Patrick and his group did to lay the foundation. It's quicker than most of us expected, but hopefully we're ready."

As the series opens, much will be made of Pittsburgh's youth vs. Detroit's experience.

But no matter the outcome, most expect an entertaining series that will be a solid showcase for a league in desperate need of a good showing. The entertainment value has many believing that no matter which team raises Lord Stanley's chalice, it will be the league that ends up the winner.

"We have lots of skill on both teams. That's going to come out," Osgood said. "That's one of the main reasons we're in the finals and they're in the finals, because they have the skill and determination to fight through checks. But the skill level is going to be very high in this series on both teams.

"I think a lot of people wanted this kind of matchup in the finals. People are talking about it in the media and before we got here. So I think a lot of people wanted to see two highly skilled teams, two offensive teams, two puck-possession teams in the finals."

MATCHUPS

Breaking down the Stanley Cup finals between Detroit and Pittsburgh, which opens with Game 1 tonight in Motown:

Forwards
Plenty of skill will be on display, with Detroit's dynamic duo of Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk on one bench and Pittsburgh's super tandem up the middle in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Both teams have depth, as well, and the Red Wings will get a major boost with the return of Johan Franzen, who is the leading goal-scorer in the postseason despite missing the past five games with concussion-like symptoms. Although Franzen won't play tonight, he's expected back soon. Slight Edge: Pittsburgh

Defense
Nicklas Lidstrom alone gives the Wings an edge, but throw in Brian Rafalski and Niklas Kronvall, and Detroit has a superior core. That's not to say Sergei Gonchar, Hal Gill or Ryan Whitney are slouches, but they just don't compare to what the Wings can put on the ice. Edge: Detroit

Goaltending
At the start of the playoffs, Chris Osgood was the backup, but he has emerged as a Conn Smythe candidate, winning his first nine games and has a playoff-best 1.60 goals-against average for Detroit. Marc-Andre Fleury has quieted the critics with his 1.70 goals-against average in leading the Penguins to their first Cup finals since 1992. Osgood, though, has finals experience, which gives the edge to the 35-year-old. Edge: Detroit

Coaching
A lot has been said about the job Pittsburgh's Michel Therrien has done in getting a young core to play defensive hockey, which is so important to the team's playoff success. But Mike Babcock has done a masterful job with a veteran-laden roster. Babcock has been here before, leading Anaheim to Game 7 of the 2003 finals. Slight Edge: Detroit

How It Will End
I keep doubting the Red Wings, thinking they are not a team built for the postseason … and they just keep rolling, looking like they are toying with teams at times. Detroit is deep, talented and has championship experience all over the ice. But the trend in the NHL these days is the young talent jumping to the forefront, and the Penguins have the best young talent in the league leading the way. Prediction: Pittsburgh in 6.

Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835 or eerlendsson@tampatrib.com.

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