Monitoring NHL Youth a Full-Time Job

By Jon Dwyer
Love of Sports Correspondent

When Sydney Crosby was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2005, you might think the young phenom from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia would have been nervous about the prospects of moving to the “big city” to play in hockey’s largest venue. And you’d be right.

“Syd the Kid” played most of his young career in Nova Scotia before moving to the Quebec League Titans “Rimouski Oceanic” dressing room (about 500 miles from his mom’s house). I often wonder if Syd wanted to bring Mom dukes to “the Burg”; if you were 18 stepping onto professional sport’s biggest stage (if you’re Canadian), wouldn’t ya want Ma and Pa with ya?

Alas, Sydney didn’t need the ole parental units, he slept with Mario Lemieux.

Not literally, of course, but he did set up shop in his spare bedroom. Upon his arrival in Pittsburgh, Mario not only invited Sydney to live with him and his family in their plush mansion (he still does), but also came out of retirement to play half a season; posting above average numbers, departing from the league that season with 22 points in 26 games.

Personally, I know 40-year-old men who would die for a night with Derek Jeter to the point they make him seem like Richard Gere in American Gigilo, for an 18-year-old Canadian kid, living with Mario must’ve been like finding out your original Nintendo was still in working condition.

I often wonder if Crosby will end up owing his career to the NHL great? The current sports era has served to construct a new pedestal from which to examine professional athletes; never before have sports stars been the subject of such intense scrutiny. That being said, Sydney Crosby’s swirled in the forum of negative media fewer times then the Pope!

LeBron James is an exemplary specimen in a sport that garners even greater examination at the hands of the public. And LeBron, like Sydney, has consistently avoided any whiff of scandal. However, I don’t think it’s because Cavs owners Dan and Gary Gilbert set up the guest loft for “King James.”

Which brings me to the question … With the approaching ‘08-’09 season and unrestricted free-agency a reality, what have the Tampa Bay Lightning done to secure the future of Steve Stamkos, the man pined to be the next young titan of the ice?

I don’t think Lightning owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie live together, and I’m not sure their wives have entertained the idea of putting an extra plate at the table, but the two men have done a lot to protect the Mr. Stamkos on the ice and in the dressing room.

A triumvirate of talent was added to the roster Monday when the team acquired Gary Roberts, Ryan Malone and Vaclav Prospal.

The 42-year-old Roberts, affectionately known as “Gary Robots” for his incredible physique and dedication to the game, played most of the last two seasons with the Penguin flanking Crosby whenever possible. In his latter years, he’s more than an on-ice presence, he commands the respect of any man in the dressing room and is said to bring a unique training program regimented over years of play.

Another Penguins forward picked up by the Bolts, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Malone, was an integral part of the Pens roster and surely a loss to the teams’ future capability. His addition to the Lightning bench will serve to fortify the strategy new coach Barry Melrose is constructing around the young Stamkos.

Before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s not forget about Vinny Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis. The Bolts were stacked with ammo already! The addition of soon-to-be-rookie-sensation Stamkos with the support of Roberts (both men are from Toronto) matched with Malone and Mr. Prospal’s explosive talent will surely make Tampa Bay the No. 1 Cup contender in the upcoming season.

I hope Lemieux has some words of advice when he and Crosby review games in the den, because Syd the Kid is officially in Stamkos’ scope like Chuck D in the Public Enemy logo.