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Sidney Crosby Reveals He Almost Left the NHL in 2012 To Play in Europe
In a recent interview, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby made the shocking revelation that he nearly left the NHL to go play in Europe back in 2012.
Sidney Crosby, top point-producing forward, was not reluctant in putting across his opinion of the disappointment of the halted labor negotiations of the league and the NHL Players' Association in the 2012-13 NHL lockout.
"I don't think there's much negotiating going on. I think as far as the proposals are concerned it's just kind of at a standstill right now," Crosby said. "Nobody's moving a whole lot on their side, and I think that we've made steps to show that we're willing to negotiate." (per Sportsnet)
The lockout was caused by the two groups not reaching a new collective bargaining arrangement, and some players, such as the great Alex Ovechkin, went to play overseas.
Only 25 years of age, in his best professional years, Crosby was clearly disappointed by the standoff. He felt the players were honestly trying their best for a fair deal, but the owners were not moving in a substantial way.
"The desperation to play doesn't really seem like it's on their side," Crosby said. "I think there's a deal to be made, but I think negotiations have to be made if there's going to be a deal. If it keeps going like this, everybody's going to lose; there's no way around it. Everybody's going to lose."
Even though a deal was ultimately finalized in the guise of a 10-year CBA, the lockout did not occur cheaply, the season was shortened from the usual 82-game schedule to a mere 48. It was the third major labor disruption in a period of 20 years.
Crosby revealed that many European teams reached out for his services
Subsequently, in September 2012, before the lockout was even in effect, Crosby also spoke of playing overseas.
"I don't know, specifically, if I've gotten to that point where I'm looking at (particular) teams, but I think I'm more or less thinking that playing is becoming a little more and more important here, the longer we go," Crosby told the Post-Gazette. "Especially in my case, where I've missed so much hockey in the last little bit."
Having battled concussion issues, keeping him from playing a total of 63 games in the previous two seasons, he was eager to get back onto the ice.
European clubs, the KHL in Russia, in particular, and the Swiss National League were in consideration by many NHL players as a temporary stop.
In the end, Crosby stuck it out, deciding instead to ride through the lockout and begin NHL action again once the new deal was signed.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 6 | 168 ANSWERS Sidney Crosby Reveals He Almost Left the NHL in 2012 To Play in Europe Did Sidney Crosby make the right choice to not go play in Europe? | ||
| Yes | 157 | 93.5 % |
| No | 11 | 6.5 % |
| List of polls | ||