The Great One

The Great One. Three words that for most, immediately bring up a name, a career, a legend. The records set, the championships won. These three words define all of this simply, yet appropriately. Wayne Gretzky redefined a sport. As his career progressed, he set and broke records while helping to lead his teams to multiple championships. He touched and gained the attention of even many of those who do not watch the sport of hockey. As memories of his accomplishments continually live on, an ongoing question keeps emerging. Who will be the next Great One. I think the more accurate question to ask is will there ever be another Great One?

Young up and coming hockey stars can often find themselves becoming a part of this discussion and debate whether they want to or not. The best example of this in recent times is Sidney Crosby. Crosby advanced through the ranks of hockey on his way to the NHL gathering media and fan attention long before he ever suited up for an NHL game. Sid the Kid as he is commonly called is the player most often pondered as to whether or not he is the next great one, but is he?

It seems in some ways the comparisons may be at least somewhat accurate. Gretzky had a knack for scoring, as well as assisting on goals as he read the plays remarkably well. This is clear as day for anyone to see by just taking a quick glance through the hockey record books. Crosby undoubtedly also has this knack amd though it is still too early in his career for him to be tearing the pages out of the record books with Gretzky's name on them and replacing them with his own it may not be that far off.

Scoring and records aside, Wayne Gretzky did something that likely cemented his place as the Great One forever. He was able to step up, perform and deliver at the utmost key times. On more than one occasion Gretzky was able to step up with big goals, amazing plays and leadership to help lead his team to Stanley Cup victories. Can Sidney Crosby have this same effect? By no means do I suggest that Gretzky did it all, it is a team sport after all. There is no doubt though that games and even championships were won that perhaps might not have been without him. Can Sidney Crosby stake the same claim in his career. It is already common knowledge that he is among the elite scorers in the NHL right now. Can he make that step though and move beyond the elite? Can he lead a team to a championship? Can he instill a confidence in a team that they can in fact win simply because they have him? Could Sid the Kid make the biggest of plays when the stage has been set? Only time can answer any of these questions. Sidney Crosby is without a doubt the best hockey player to grace the game in quite some time, but will he be looked upon someday down the road and the true next Great One? Only time will tell this of course. Time either filled with trophies and highlight reels of championship winning plays, or time filled with goals and assists, scoring trophies and sponsorships but no championships and no stories of him leading the teams to those championships. Only time will tell and until that time has come, all eyes are on Sid the Kid