Vincent Lecavalier Has Some Advice for Sidney Crosby

Vincent Lecavalier, who was once expected to be the next saviour of hockey (aka the Michael Jordan of Hockey), knows the kind of pressure Sidney Crosby is under.

Eric Duhatschek of The Globe and Mail looks to Vincent to see what is in store for Crosby as the Penguins head into the playoffs.

Vincent Lecavalier understands a little bit about this business of being a high-profile junior star thrust into the National Hockey League spotlight at an early age.

He also understands just how much scrutiny the Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby will be under once the playoffs begin next week and Crosby will be participating, rather than watching, for the first time in his life.

Unlike Lecavalier, who needed to wait until his fifth professional season before the Tampa Bay Lightning qualified for the playoffs, Crosby's debut will come in his sophomore season. At 19, Crosby looks as if he'll win his first NHL scoring title this season, something Lecavalier has yet to do. On the other hand, Lecavalier, 26, has a Stanley Cup ring, something Crosby will be chasing once the playoffs get under way.

The Penguins are a lot of people's choice as a dark-horse playoff contender because of their wealth of young talent and the fact that expectations will be minimal in their breakout season.

How, Lecavalier was asked, did he approach his first playoff? As a chance to dip his toes, cautiously, in the water? Or go all out in an attempt to win a championship?

"No, I think you try to put pressure on yourself . . . good pressure, to try to win," Lecavalier said in an NHL conference call yesterday. "Once you get into the playoffs, you never know what can happen. It's a great experience that first playoff game. I remember my first couple of shifts, I was just running around with my head cut off, I was just so excited.

"But obviously, when it's your first time, it's great."

You can find the entire article right here.