OT: Sidney Crosby set to return tomorrow

Taking it doggy style dont count..

You are obviously high on something if you put St. Louis #2 on the list of people to start a franchise with. He's 36 and not even the best player on his team (Stamkos). I'd take Datsyuk over St. Louis because he's a better player in all phases of the game.

Hahaha you should be the GM for the Leafs.

This is insane. Do you even watch hockey?

Don't you have to actually play to be on a players ranking list?

Do you actually have a 1-22 order of players you want to start a franchise with? Otherwise it seems you just randomly placed Datsyuk and Lidstrom in at 18 and 22. Also, I know you lack a credible argument for Crosby because if you knew hockey that well you would realize that any team would rather start a franchise with Datsyuk then Lidstrom as Lidstrom has been considering retirement for the last two years. Any team would take 5-7 more years of Datsyuk over another 1-maybe 2 years of Lidstrom.

Additionally, Sid the Whiny Bitch is a talented hockey player but a classless one who really isn't as good as you seem to think he is. He doesn't measure up to any Red Wing player because no Red Wing would skate away from Mike Babcock after winning the Cup when Babcock is trying to tell him how good of a player he is. Nor does a hockey player of substance leave Nick Lidstrom standing at center ice without shaking hands between captains. Now to actually how good of a player he is. He is great, one of the best in the league, so it is good he can make it back and not have his career ruined by injuries. Yet, I don't think he is that great: if you look at the top point getters for each season since Crosby has entered the league you will notice that Sid the Bitch's stats are more impressive than most yet his +/- is significantly lower than many at the top, particularly the other forwards. This leads me to believe he either gains a significant amount of his points on the tacky bullshit penalities are called in his favor or he isn't very good at defense. Both of those tend to devalue him as the elite player you seem to think he is. I am not going to argue that Zetterberg or Datsyuk are better hockey talents than he is (I think so) because we are biased, I really don't have enough information, and it really doesn't matter to me. I will always know the Red Wings are a classier organization than Pittsburgh and our excellence (at least as of the last decade) hasn't been based on getting top 5 picks every year in the draft to build a team.

Datsyuk also missed over a third of the season, and part of his value is he's the best defensive forward in the league and doesn't take penalties.

Lidstrom is a defenseman. It isn't his job to score points. The fact your argument is based around "this forward scores more points than this defenseman" only heightens my suspicion you don't actually watch hockey with any regularity. Lidstrom is generally regarded as the second greatest player ever at his position. No one would say the same about Crosby.

Pavel also isnt counted on to carry the team. When puss boy plays everyone stares at him like hes the second comming of jesus. I'd rather have Malkin over him any day atleast he plays hard and is hard on other players.

As JClay mentioned, comparing him to Lidstrom is pointless and a signifcant part of Datsyuk's value is that he plays defense. If you look at Crosby's career, he is almost always in the top 10 in points but he has one of the worst +/-s in the top 10. Most of the other forwards have better +/-s. He would appear (on the surface) to lack defensive ability or to score most of his goals on the PP, which he usually draws with some half ass call.

Side note, hasn't officiating been getting terrible these days in the NHL?

Datsyuk and Zetters disagree with your assertion that Cindy is two skill levels above every NHL player. I would take the Sedin twins anyday over Crosby. 

Yes the fact that he's Canadian factors into the hatred, because it's this fact that contributes to the Bettman/League attitude that he's untouchable and god's gift to hockey.  Crosby isn't a hockey player, he's a goal scorer who let's others fight his fights.  I have zero respect for stars who don't take care of any of their own business and constantly whine.  To show you I'm being objective, as a Red Wings fan I apply this same caveat to Yzerman.  Players like Ovechkin and even Datsyuk happily throw their weight around, and not only when they have open easy shots to take.  

Anyone who believes Crosby is 2 levels above every other NHL player hasn't watched enough hockey.  Ovechkin and Stamkos are equals. Datysuk is only slightly behind because of his size.  Both Toews and Kane have an argument to make.  If Crosby is that much better, how come he only has 1 Hart trophy?

Bettman made a mistake and thought that he needed to follow the NBA model of hyping a select few superstars.  This, among many of his stupid, short sighted decisions, is the reason the NHL is where it is today.  

Crosby got a ring, but the Wings shut him down in both series. He had 3 points and was -3 in the 2009 finals. He didn't beat Detroit, Malkin and Fleury did.