Crosby vs. Giroux - The NHL Needs to Return NOW

I don't think Sidney and Claude are exchanging
pleasantries in this conversation...

As of the time of this post being written the NHLPA and the NHL negotiating session scheduled for today has been pushed back to 2:30pm.  It won't be clear what the players and owners will do until the afternoon, but there is one thing for certain, and that is the fact that after reading Sidney Crosby's comments regarding Claude Giroux of the Philadelphia Flyers...the NHL needs to return NOW!

The Pittsburgh vs Philadelphia rivalry is something that stretches well beyond hockey.  Football and baseball have always been compared and competitive, but its on the ice where the blood really starts to boil.  Whether it was the Flyers knocking the Pens out of the playoffs last year, Darius Kaspiritus essentially ending Eric Lindros' career with a huge hit, or the Penguins defeating the Flyers in the '09 playoffs on their way to their third Stanley Cup in team history.  All of that generates alot of publicity and alot of crazy fans,  but the comments made by Giroux in early summer and now Crosby's rare off the cuff remarks makes this rivalry even more intense. 

If you aren't aware, early this past summer Claude Giroux had to have surgery on his wrists after the season.  When asked what cause the injury he said that Sidney Crosby consistently slashing him in the wrists on faceoffs instead of going for the puck was how he fractured one wrist.  An injury he had to play with in the next series vs the New Jersey Devils (who quickly dismissed the Flyers in 5 games).  Sidney Crosby's response immediately after Giroux ran his mouth was simply that he had no comment.  That was until yesterday when Crosby sat down with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and said the following when asked about his reaction upon hearing Giroux's comments:

”No. I really like to win the faceoff. I don’t try to go after his wrists but if I caught it, I’m not sorry for it. I think it’s hilarious I hear that stuff from Philly. It’s comedy to me to be honest with you. They’re probably involved in that stuff more than any team in the league and they’re the ones always talking about it.  I guess I’m not apologetic. I was trying to win a faceoff and if I caught his wrist, then I caught his wrist. He seemed to play okay so I couldn’t have hurt him that bad.”

Somewhere you can hear some young fans yelling: Awwwwwwww....no he didn't!  This just puts some gasoline on the fire that has already been brewing, not just between the Flyers and Penguins, but between Giroux and Crosby.  After reading these comments I wanted to go out and find a Flyers fan to throw down with.  I was quickly brought down to earth by the fact that even though this is just going to get fans pumped up even more, the NHL season isn't even guaranteed.  This is when I hope and pray that the NHL and NHLPA come to sort of agreement (not today) but within the next few weeks to ensure an 82 game slate that will showcase not just Crosby and Giroux but also the great rivalries the NHL has to offer.  Get to it boys!