In his most recent column for Sportsnet, Elliott Friedman reported that Sidney Crosby, the captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins, is in the process of altering his practice regimen. It has been revealed that Crosby is experimenting with a new curve in an effort to emulate the style of Jared McCann, who is currently a player for the Seattle Kraken. According to Friedman’s findings, Crosby is projected to tally 49 goals this season and is aiming to refine his shooting abilities by adopting McCann’s curve.
This unforeseen decision has garnered a response from McCann, who has expressed his admiration for Crosby’s commitment to enhancing his performance, despite already being an exceptional player. Having been a former teammate of Crosby in Pittsburgh, McCann has now established himself as a prominent figure with 40 goals to his name for the Kraken. He has mentioned that while he occasionally alters his shaft and grip, he has never modified the “custom” curve on his stick, which has proven to be effective for him.
Furthermore, McCann has conveyed his pleasure at having a high-profile admirer in Crosby and has been flattered by the fact that one of the NHL’s premier players is emulating his style. McCann recently made a significant contribution to the Kraken’s game against the Anaheim Ducks upon his return to the lineup after recovering from a lower-body injury.
In other news, two promising prospects for the Kraken, Ty Nelson and Carson Rehkopf, have been selected to represent Team Canada at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden. Nelson, who joined the North Bay Battalion of the OHL in 2022, has been added to the roster as an injury replacement. Additionally, Rehkopf, a forward who is currently leading the Ontario Hockey League in scoring, is also a part of the Canadian team. These young players will have the opportunity to display their talent alongside some of the top under-20 players from across the globe.
The tournament is slated to commence on December 26, with Canada squaring off against Finland in the opening match. This follows Canada’s completion of pretournament games, which concluded with a tight 6-5 overtime loss to Team USA. Both Nelson and Rehkopf are anticipated to make a positive impact for Team Canada in this prestigious event.