Nach der Absage der heurigen NHL-Saison häufen sich in den US-Medien Spekulationen über die Draft-Prospects 2005! Ganz hoch im Kurs steht natürlich QMJHL-Supertalent Sidney Crosby, der laut eigenen Aussagen nächste Jahr "professional hockey" spielen möchte! Laut neuesten Medienberichten gibt es bei diversen AHL-Vereinen Überlegungen Crosby für die kommende Saison zu verpflichten!
Manitoba Moose Eigentümer Mark Chipman, auf eine Verpflichtung Sidney Crosbys angesprochen, gegenüber der "Winnipeg Sun":
... "Yeah, it has," he said. "Who doesn't think about names like that in our business? I'm sure it would create a buzz. Sidney Crosby would be a good American League player. And he's a very dynamic guy. He's a household name. That's all intriguing."...
und weiter im gestern erschienen Kommentar der Zeitung:
...With a personality to match his talent, the guy is a marketer's dream.
And if an AHL team managed to sign him this summer, there wouldn't be a rink big enough to hold everyone who'd pay to watch him.
Already, there is speculation the Chicago Wolves will go after Crosby. The AHL's big kid on the block has never been shy about spending money.
But let's face it -- the best bang for the big bucks you'd surely have to pay Crosby would come in Canada....
und auch ein (un)möglicher Wechsel nach Europa wird diskutiert:
...Sure, Crosby will be pursued by a few of the wealthier teams in European leagues.
But there are advantages to him playing in North America.
"It's not as though he's got to prove himself," Chipman pointed out.
And in the next breath ...
"The advantage is you're going to play 80 games instead of 48," Chipman continued. "You're going to play in a North American system and a North American style."
Against many of the young players he'll be competing with for the rest of his career. ...
Also vielleicht spielen ja unsere AHL-Jungs bald gegen das zur Zeit heißeste Hockey-Talent Nordamerikas!