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Penguins GM is tired of people ‘nitpicking’ Crosby

Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby

AP

Most players would kill to score 71 points in 64 games for a playoff-caliber team, but those totals are relatively weak for Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby. At least, that’s what many would argue.

Penguins GM Jim Rutherford is tired of such notions, as he told the Canadian Press.

“It’s total nitpicking because there’s nothing wrong with him,” Rutherford said Monday at the general managers meeting. “His play, to me, has been as good as it’s ever been.”

Rutherford praises Crosby for buying in to working hard in all areas of the ice instead of “cheating” to create offense.

The 27-year-old sang a similar tune about his overall play a few days ago, stating that he wouldn’t change anything that he’s been doing (although he’d love to score more).

The offense has been there in the same volume, indeed. He’s scoring at a rate of 1.11 point-per-game, which is the lowest average of his career (his previous low was 1.26 from his rookie season). Still, his possession stats look fine, and one could argue that the bounces haven’t been there in the same quantities at times in 2014-15.

Honestly, one can understand the frustration for Crosby and the Penguins in general, as any perceived cold streak is placed under the magnifying glass. It’s easy to forget that Pittsburgh remains an East contender and Crosby could very well win another Art Ross Trophy despite missing a chunk of games with injury issues.

Not that bad of a problem to have then, right?