But Crosby is an added plus because he has always had so much hype around him. Even Gretzky said that Sid the Kid would break his own records. All of the other players you mentioned (Pujols, Pedro, Lebron, Shaq, etc.) are marketable now because they were/are stars at young ages. They had the hype surrounding them when they exploded on the scene. Just like Sidney, LeBron was talked about while 16. The NHL missed the boat on other great marketable players, and if they miss out now, it could all be over. Crosby was having sticks made in his name before he hit the NHL. Hes been on Leno, on magazine covers, and commercials. Him winning the Calder only makes him that much more desierable and that much easier to market. Phaneuf is great, but didn't get any pub on the east coast (or at least in America). Ovechkin was all over the place with his goal vs Pheonix, but kind off died off near the end. Crosby was the only NHLer constantly thrown down my throat, and so many others. The kid winning the Calder can play a major role in saving our sport. He can't be tagged as the next great one, and lose rookie of the year. As great as Ovechkin is, he doesn't have the same ability business wise as Crosby. Crosby losing this may give the marketing in the NHL a hit, and make the league more reluctant to put their players out there. Pumping Crosby as the best and then not winning the Calder just flat out wouldn't look good from a business stand point, which we unfortunatly have to take into major concideration now with the NHL.

All those names you mentioned are recognizable to dedicated hockey fans and Canadians I'm sure, but even non-hockey fans know who Sidney Crosby is. They don't know about Stevie Y. Most people in my area have heard of Jagr and Brodeur, but they are far from recognizable if your not a dedicated fan. Crossby is the best shot the NHL has.

As far as it being horrible to just focus on one guy, for so may years, the NHLH has promoted NO ONE! Crosby would be a great start and if his promotion goes well, it would be huge for the league and incomming rookies.

I have so much faith in the young gun of this league, that I still think that the NHL should promote the product on the ice, and not only one guy. And I think compagny related to hockey, like Reebok or Gatorade, are promoting pretty well Sidney Crosby!

To sum up, I think the future is bright for the NHL!

Crosby oddly has signed on with Gatorade but the NHL is supprted by Powerade. My understanding is that Crosby still has a deal with Sheerwood, I don't know if he switched. I also have yet to see Crosby in those Gatorade ads with Peyton Manning and Derek Jeter.

I would have to go with ovechkin followed by crosby and the lundquivst or phanuef. Ovechkin was dominant scoring goals like its nothing and crosby had a great vision. Phanuef was great defensemen getting offense and defense. And lundquivst was great him and jagr carried the rangers.