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When they were young

As you may have heard, Sidney Crosby turns 21 tomorrow. No word yet if the Staals plan on hosting a party.

But let's forget for a moment that "Sid The Kid" can now legally buy a bottle of Sambuca in this country. Let's focus on "The Kid" part.

Only two players in the history of the sport have been more productive than Crosby before turning 21. Perhaps you've heard of them.

 (Photo: Dennis Brodeur/Getty Images)

Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux are the only players with at least the equivalent of a full NHL season under their belt to record more points per game than Crosby before they turned 21.

Not bad company.

Here's a list of every player who averaged more than a point per game in more than 78 games before they turned 21.

Player, Team Games
Played 		Points Points
Per Game
1. Wayne Gretzky, Oilers  159 301 1.89
2. Mario Lemieux, Penguins  152 241 1.59
3. Sidney Crosby, Penguins  213 294 1.38
4. Eric Lindros, Flyers  126 172 1.37
5. Rob Brown, Penguins  119 159 1.34
6. Alex Ovechkin, Capitals  81 106 1.31
7. Dale Hawerchuk, Jets  239 296 1.24
7. Denis Savard, Blackhawks  156 194 1.24
9. Jimmy Carson, Kings/Oilers  240 286 1.19
10. Ron Francis, Whalers  210 241 1.15
11. Pierre Larouche, Penguins  155 179 1.15
12. Evgeni Malkin, Penguins  78 85 1.09
12. Barry Pederson, Bruins  89 97 1.09
12. Joe Sakic, Nordiques  150 164 1.09
15. Bryan Trottier, Islanders  156 167 1.07
16. Steve Yzerman, Red Wings  211 218 1.03

 Lord knows how Rob Brown is on that list, let alone so high up on it. Other than, being on Mario Lemieux's line that is.

EMPTY NETTER ASSISTS

Penguins

-Groundbreaking for the Penguins' new arena will take place Aug. 14.

-Undrafted forward Cedric Lalonde-McNicoll, who had the fourth-most goals in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season with 43, will attend the Penguins training camp.

Atlantic Division

-The Devils re-signed forward Pascal Rheaume. He spent last season in Austria.

Northeast Division

-New Bruins forward Michael Ryder hates moose. And we're not talking about Johan Hedberg.

Southeast Division

-Hopefully you don't have Panthers forward Chad Kilger in your fantasy keeper league.

-Miami Arena, the original home of the Panthers, is near the end of its life.

 Adams Division

-This is very loosely connected to hockey, but  check out this really cool gallery of Olympic torches dating back to 1936.

-By the sounds of things, watching KHL games in the United States, won't be that much tougher than watching anything on Versus.

Posted Aug 06 2008, 03:31 AM by Seth Rorabaugh
Filed under: , , ,

Comments

Boarding.Major wrote re: When they were young
on Wed, Aug 6 2008 10:51 AM

I'm sorry to say it, but I am looking at the here and now and forward.  Wayne and Mario were two fo the greatest ever to lace it up in the NHL. But now is a new era of young talent, and that's where I will keep my focus, not comparing the new kids to a memory.  They need to create their own memories.

Cedric Lalonde-McNicoll is a great add to the training camp roster.  While I think he would end up in WBS this year if they keep him, he's smart, plays a decent two way game, and scores.  Not to mention, the guy won the Frank J. Selke Commemorative Trophy as the "Most Sportsmanlike Player".

I thought Pascal Rheaume was lost and forgotten.  Can he actually still bring something to the table?  I'll believe it when I see it.

Sorry Michael Ryder hates moose.  I hate eating moose, but while in Fairbanks I enjoyed my time sitting on my friend's porch and watching the moose meander through the yard.  Maybe he's just afraid of the Manitoba Moose or the Halifax Mooseheads.  What do you think?  LOL!

The season is almost here!

BringBackColby wrote re: When they were young
on Wed, Aug 6 2008 11:48 AM

Any chance of bringing in Pascal's sister to back up Brodeur?

dannyboy15644 wrote re: When they were young
on Wed, Aug 6 2008 12:38 PM

Pumped up for the season except for the news Lange won't be doing TV.  It's like going on a date with a supermodel with a fake leg.  What a travesty.

G-Man wrote re: When they were young
on Wed, Aug 6 2008 2:35 PM

>>It's like going on a date with a supermodel with a fake leg.<<

Sounds like something Paul McCartney might have said at one time.

dps2002 wrote re: When they were young
on Wed, Aug 6 2008 4:19 PM

I happen to find myself on the complete opposite end of the "Mike Lange for TV" spectrum.  Since I currently have no way of accessing FSN Pittsburgh for Pitt Penguins games, my only way to pay attention to the games that aren't on Versus, CSN Philadelphia (for the Flyers vs. Penguins games), or HDNet (new for me this year) is radio through the Internet.  I'd much rather listen to Lange and Bourque than Steigerwald and anybody.

Besides...if you think about it, through the wonders of the Internet, Lange has a much, much larger potential audience on radio than on a regional television network.  At least so far, you don't have to pay for Internet radio access to NHL games; you'd have to pay for a Center Ice package that allows you to watch the other regional networks.

That's just my circumstance, though.

Lauren wrote re: When they were young
on Wed, Aug 6 2008 6:31 PM

I agree with dps; I commented about that a few weeks ago when the P-G did the Lange vs. Steigerwald poll. For everybody who can't watch Pens games, listening is the next best thing, and for that you get Lange. Even when you can watch on TV, you always have the option of turning down the volume on the TV - whether it's FSN or the hacks on NBC and Versus - and turning on the radio (or the internet) to listen to Lange's play-by-play. I like it.

Anyway, thanks for making me want to go play Guitar Hero. Hard to believe that Sid will be 21 tomorrow.

Donnie Shulzhoffer wrote re: When they were young
on Thu, Aug 7 2008 11:52 AM

Seth, Mirtle loves linking you

Seth Rorabaugh wrote re: When they were young
on Thu, Aug 7 2008 1:43 PM

DS,

Not to brag, but when Mirtle is linking to you, you're doing something right.

CYKADELICA66 wrote re: When they were young
on Thu, Aug 7 2008 3:14 PM

Anyone else notice that 8 of the 16 laced up for the Penguins?

User links about "larouche" on iLinkShare wrote User links about "larouche" on iLinkShare
on Tue, Feb 17 2009 12:33 AM

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