The real difference between Sidney Crosby and Sean Couturier is impossible to ignore
The playoff battle between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia has been a very long time coming. There is a variety of bad blood between these groups. The captains of every group, Sidney Crosby of the Penguins and Sean Couturier of the Flyers, have been by way of the wringer and again. These two stalwarts have been declaring conflict on one another for the final 15 years. No matter the standings, these two warriors come to combat one another each time they meet.
With that stated, there is a stark difference between the 2, which we’ll get into in just a little bit. Crosby got here into the league because the annointed “next one.” For probably the most half, he is delivered. He’s gained three Stanley Cups for Pittsburgh and is presently seventh all-time in profession factors. With 37 extra factors, he’ll crack the highest 5. If he has two seasons like he had this yr (71 factors), he’ll be third total and inside hanging distance of second all-time. There is a powerful likelihood he might grow to be the second participant to attain 2,000 profession factors. As far as objectives go, he is 54 away from 700. He’s gained a bunch of awards alongside the best way. Without a doubt, he is a Hall of Famer.
Couturier is not. Sure, he’ll be a member of the Flyers Hall of Fame someday. As a primary spherical choose, there have been hopes he might be nice; and briefly he was. However, he had by no means entered the NHL with the expectations positioned on him that Crosby had. He had are available with the thought he’d be a stable high six middle and in that, he is had a profitable profession. There might be the likelihood that his quantity can be retired. If he stays wholesome, as he has been, he ought to attain 1,000 video games performed subsequent season and might be the all-time chief for the Flyers there. Next season, he might grow to be the twelfth Flyer to rating 600 profession factors.
However, the yr and a half he misplaced due to an damage derailed his profession. The one-time Selke winner has misplaced a step. He’s slowed down. He is not a top-line man. John Tortorella noticed this final yr and reduce his minutes considerably, albeit in a cold-hearted manner. His offensive manufacturing has been manner down in consequence. Let’s be trustworthy, you do not need a slow-moving Couturier matched up with speedsters like Matvei Michkov and Owen Tippett as that may decelerate their recreation.
How Couturier is Different
At the commerce deadline, simply after the Olympic break, Rick Tocchet spoke to Couturier. The Flyers had simply acquired Luke Glendening off the waiver wire and traded away Nicolas Deslauriers. Tocchet had an thought of putting Couturier on the fourth line with Glendening and Garnet Hathaway to carry stability to a checking line that has been in flux all season. It wasn’t a demotion. It was a reassignment based mostly on a group want and it was one which Couturier might fill properly. Because of that, Couturier agreed to his new function.
The transfer has paid off dividends. Couturier has scored six objectives within the final 25 video games of the yr with 9 assists. On a checking line! That’s 15 factors in 25 video games in a season the place he scored 36 complete factors. So far within the playoffs, you are seeing the identical factor because the checking line has been racking up many of the factors. Part of that is how efficient Couturier is within the faceoff circle. He’s gained a variety of faceoffs in key moments of those video games; particularly within the defensive finish of the ice. In return, that fourth line has grow to be a key consider Philly’s three wins over Pittsburgh.
Couturier is lots like Jordan Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes. Their greatest years are behind them, however they’re nonetheless properly revered across the league and beloved by their teammates. Both gamers have performed on the entrance line for a lot of their careers, however are actually on the underside line. However, they will nonetheless play properly sufficient to be employed. More importantly, they’re nonetheless making an affect. They nonetheless have worth to their respective groups. If issues preserve going the best way they’re going, you could possibly see Couturier and Staal match up subsequent week.
So how is this totally different than Crosby? Easy. There is no flipping manner that Couturier would ever, ever, EVER pretend an damage by rolling round on the ice to get a BS penalty name. Crosby did that and then was hoisted on his personal petard proper over to the sin bin for faking it, or because the NHL calls it, “embellishment.” Couturier would by no means debase himself like that. But hey, keep in mind, you’ll be able to’t spell Crosby with out “cry” and “sob.”
Crosby is a Hall of Famer. There is little doubt about that. The expertise stage between him and Couturier is big. No argument there. But in case you are speaking about gamers with pure “class”…no query. It’s Couturier all the best way. No Flyers fan might or would ever tolerate flopping round like that. No Penguins fan ought to both. Sorry Pittsburgh…I’d moderately take the stylish man any day of the week.
