“He’s got the LeBron effect,” Mathew Barzal LAUDS Sidney Crosby as ‘crispiest hockey player of all time’ at NHL All-Star Game

Mathew Barzal and NHL stars praise Sidney Crosby as one of the league's best players, defying age in every game on the ice.

“He’s got the LeBron effect,” Mathew Barzal LAUDS Sidney Crosby as ‘crispiest hockey player of all time’ at NHL All-Star Game

Mathew Barzal and Sidney Crosby [Image Credit: NYI Hockey Now/Imago]

NY Islanders forward Mathew Barzal highly praised Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby for his resilience and playstyle on the ice. Once again ‘Sid the Kid’s wizardry at 36, amused fans and players alike at the NHL All-Star Game. Crosby and Barzal have been divisional rivals for ages since the latter debuted with the Islanders in 2016.

They faced off against each other in countless matches including both regular and off-season games. Crosby is even hated by the Islanders for always standing in the way of the Stanley Cup dream. Nevertheless, this did not create a wedge between fans or players admiring their rivals.

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Mathew Barzal raved about Sidney Crosby’s puck-passing abilities, vision, and puck protection even amidst harsh plays on the ice. He labeled ‘The Chosen One’ as “the crispiest hockey player of all time.” He further added,

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He could probably be this way five years from now. He’s got the LeBron effect, where age doesn’t really matter. He’s always going to be one of the best players in the league.
Mathew Barzal on X.

Several players praise Sidney Crosby as his plays on ice mesmerize everyone at NHL All-Star Game

Apart from Mathew Barzal signing high praise of Sidney Crosby, several other pro stars also glorified ‘The Chosen One’. Buffalo Sabres defenceman Rasmus Dahlin is one of them. The Swedish player noted that if one plays against him they’ll get to know he hasn’t “aged a year since I came into the league.”

“He’s got so much speed and he’s so smart,” Dahlin said warning opponents to keep on their toes if they want to play against him. Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson said that Crosby’s “got that ‘wow’ factor” no matter when and where one plays against him.

Sidney Crosby [Image Credit: The Athletic]
Sidney Crosby [Image Credit: The Athletic]

Bruins goalie ‘Bulldog’ Jeremy Sawyman said, “He’s the right kind of human being” whether it be Crosby as a player or as a person. “He’s a true leader” and being able to “have these memories with him” is really special.

Although most praises were showered on Crosby, he wasn’t the only one whom Barzal mentioned during NHL All-Star Game media day. He also talked about sensational player Nikita Kucherov, and how he has improved much more this season and is coming strong against the teams.

He said Kucherov is “on another level for a while”. He recalled the times they faced off against each other, as Barzal noted how difficult it is to play against him. “He’s so deceptive…just so tricky out there” that it is hard to decipher his play. As one of the top scorers in the league Kucherov’s play, speed, and vision are “exceptional”.

With the NHL All-Star Game ending, the players will return to their respective teams and prepare for faceoff. The regular season games will go on as scheduled with Stanley Cup contention on the line. It’ll be interesting to see which 16 teams will grab the contention spot and who’ll be eliminated.

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