FARMER’S BRANCH, Tex. — It does not matter if the Olympic rink in Milan is 197 feet long, as long as it gets finished and the world is treated to a best-on-best tournament involving Sidney Crosby.
Crosby shrugged off any concerns about the size of the Olympic rink, though he did concede it would make a big difference. He made it clear that he just wants to play.
“It’s one of those things that’s really out of your control. So yeah, I think I’m just happy that we’re going to have the opportunity to go to the Olympics,” said Crosby. “So, regardless of what the size of the rink is or how that shakes out, the main thing is that it is done and it’ll be the same for everyone.”
It should be noted that the Avicii Arena in Stockholm didn’t have perfectly dimensioned NHL ice, either. The NHL shortened the neutral zone for the games between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators, and the games went off without a hitch.
Construction is still ongoing on the arena. The NHL was to receive an update on Friday. The Women’s tournament begins Feb. 5, and the Men’s tournament a week later.
That deadline is looming large, but a frozen lake, or a parking lot, would suit Crosby just fine if it meant playing.
Ben Kindel Effect?
Crosby has someone else who wants to go out and play.
As is becoming commonplace after practice, a small group of players, centering around Crosby, Kris Letang, and Ben Kindel, remained on the ice long after practice. In fact, the group was still on the ice when coach Dan Muse was speaking with the media.
The coach typically debriefs after practice, lets the players clear out, and then chats with the media. However, Saturday, Muse was updating us on Justin Brazeau’s and Noel Acciari’s status before the former kids and the new kids left the ice.
“He’s really passionate about the game. He wants to learn. As you can see, he loves being out there, so he wants to get better, but he is also having fun playing NHL as an 18-year-old,” Crosby said. “I mean, it’s it’s a great feeling. It was a long time ago for me, but I remember it was the best. You dream of playing in the NHL, and finally you can go out there and do what you love to do, and yeah, I think he’s just making the most of his opportunity. I don’t think he takes it for granted.”
Talking about Kindel, Crosby gave a healthy smile. Sure, it was 20 years ago that Crosby was a fresh-faced kid putting the league on notice as he and Alex Ovechkin remade the game and sparked public interest, but it’s also been a long time since Crosby had anyone to join him on the playground.
“I don’t know (if it makes me feel younger). I like being out there too, so at least I have a couple extra guys that like being out there a little longer, and yeah, it’s fun,” Crosby said. “It’s great when you have that enthusiasm, that energy around, and I think having some younger guys always injects that in your team, for sure.”
The habit of playing games of various degrees after practice is new. Or old? Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang used to hang out after practice, sometimes for more than an hour, when they were young.
But it’s been a long time since the Penguins had some youngster or other players who loved it as much as Crosby and the core.
When we write the final chapters of this season, whether it ends in April or later, the Penguins maintaining a playoff position into December will be a story. And part of the reason they’ve been able to excel when most expected the team to tank is indeed the enthusiasm.
A few young players. And yes, you knew.
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