It’s been a major step for Crosby to not be able to hide behind, or to be encouraged by, a coach as prone to whiny bitchery as Michel Therrien. Working with Dan Bylsma — and especially with my favorite player in the history of ever, Tommy Fitzgerald — has got to have been a good learning experience for Crosby. But he’s still a kid, and not in that NHL-approved, nickname-friendly way. His “playoff beard” most resembles a … and I’m sorry, but I’m a woman, so I’m going to say this … barely pubescent girl’s labia. When he’s permitted to speak to the press, especially after a loss, he kind of looks like he wants to die. He’s a child. He’s probably extraordinary, as a player, but it’s really hard to tell when he’s repeatedly being thrown into spotlights he doesn’t understand and cannot handle. (Different situation: Alex Ovechkin. He may not fully get it, but he loves it, and he will make some hilarious motherfucking rape jokes [in Russian, of course] while enjoying said spotlight.)

I would like to further add that I have developed, because I have a lot of brain grapes on my hands here, a whole NHL-as-Twin Peaks thing, and in it, Crosby is Leland Palmer, and Guerin is BOB. Think about it. God knows I have. Way, way too much.

You must first experience and learn before you can lead…….look at The Captain’s playoff history to understand how long it can take to truly develop into a great leader.

And it’s not about leadership by being the best/most skilled guy on the ice but rather bringing out the best in everyone around you – lines 1-4!

…and scene.

Also, Drury, Morrow, Alfredsson and Doan. Maybe Chara, too, but they aren’t anything like The Swede, Iggy and Sakic. Nobody was like The Captain, except maybe Sakic.