Did Sidney Crosby stiff Nick Lidstrom in the post-game handshake?

by Dirk Hoag on Jun 13, 2009 3:37 PM EDT

It's one of the great traditions of hockey, the way two teams line up for handshakes at the end of a playoff series. But in the euphoria of last night's Stanley Cup championship, did young Sidney Crosby stiff Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom? This comes from the Detroit Free Press:

After watching Pittsburgh hoist the Cup on Detroit’s ice, the Red Wings lined up to shake hands with the Penguins as is custom in the NHL playoffs.

Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom was up front, followed by alternate captain Kris Draper, congratulating many of the new champions while waiting for Pittsburgh’s captain.

"Nick was waiting and waiting, and Crosby didn’t come over to shake his hand," Draper told an Associated Press reporter a couple hours after the game, as he was leaving Joe Louis Arena. "That’s ridiculous, especially as their captain, and make sure you write that I said that!"

I'd love to see the video on this (check the comments below for a link) to determine what really happened, but if true, that's a major misstep by Crosby. When the other team lines up you're supposed to get in there and show respect to each member of your opponent, not just the ones you get around to.

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I noticed that he was taking a while to get to the handshake line, but it’s entirely possible he just didn’t notice it was forming, and everyone was too busy congratulating him to point it out.

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by Doogie2K on Jun 13, 2009 3:46 PM EDT reply actions

Crosby & Draper

If Sidney Crosby did neglect to shake Lidstrom’s hand, he was wrong. It’s part of sportsmanship and no one tries harder to exemplify sportsmanship than Crosby. But for Kris Draper to add his sour grapes to the whole thing is ridiculous. And make sure you write that I said that. LMAO

by uglyphd on Jun 13, 2009 5:06 PM EDT reply actions

since theres no video of it im not buying it unless someone respectable like lidstrom says yeah he missed me or sid comes out and asys yeah..whoops/ this is coming from draper, bennificiary of a lovely ill see you around slash by sid at the end of game 1. lets not forget also that sid is still a 21 year old kid who just realized a dream.

" Lord Stanley, etch thier names on your fabled cup" Mike Lange june 12, 2009

by oldtimehockey09 on Jun 13, 2009 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Here is the video proof

http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?id=43746

I also have photographic proof from the photos I took while at the game last night.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpowers65/sets/72157619584445919/

by redwingsfan65 on Jun 13, 2009 6:26 PM EDT reply actions

guess you have watched any post game where he was indeed a kid again, at the net celebrating with the staff. if all mighty draper and lidstrom are so butt hurt why didnt the stick around?

lets not forget also that sid is still a 21 year old kid who just realized a dream.

" Lord Stanley, etch thier names on your fabled cup" Mike Lange june 12, 2009

by oldtimehockey09 on Jun 13, 2009 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions

After seeing the video, I’d say it’s a pretty bad misstep by Crosby. The losing team wants to get out of there quick, and as captain, he should be paying attention to stuff like this. That’s what a team leader does.

It’s not the end of the world, but it’s definitely something he should hear about.

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by Dirk Hoag on Jun 13, 2009 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions

so what

It is not alright that Sid wasn’t paying attention, but you do not need to make a mountain out of a mole hill. At 21 anyone would have been like a little kid again. Detroit lost. Stop whining about it and trying to find any little thing you can to mar the victory for the Pens. ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL????

sbdvlkasjb

by rerun on Jun 14, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I Disagree, It’s absolutely something he should hear about! This guy is the Captain and is supposed to be a leader. He should have been the first one out there. It absolutely makes me sick to see this immature brat compared to the likes of Messier and Gretzky and Yzerman or even Mario. As a leader he isn’t fit to lick Messier’s or Yzerman’s skates. While he’s very talented he’s also very immature and selfish. I hope he enjoys his cup and I hope that next winter Yzerman keeps his selfish egotistical ass off of Team Canada!

by Graywolf on Jun 13, 2009 11:30 PM EDT reply actions

or you could just be angry that you couldnt beat us when our best guy had to swallow his pride and sit because he was a liablity due to a check away from the puck by franzen. being able to sit and swallow your pride for the betterment of the team speaks much louder then any angry wings fan.

" Lord Stanley, etch thier names on your fabled cup" Mike Lange june 12, 2009

by oldtimehockey09 on Jun 14, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions

More from ESPN

“Nobody respects the traditions of hockey more than Sidney Crosby,” team vice president Tom McMillan said. “It was a young team celebrating its first Cup and some of the guys might have been a little late getting into the handshake line.” The losing team almost always leaves the ice quickly following an elimination loss, especially during the finals, and it was uncertain how long Lidstrom waited.

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by Aditya T (smashville) on Jun 14, 2009 2:41 AM EDT reply actions

Sid

I agree, it was a mis-step, but the ice is becoming a circus when the Cup is won. Everyone and their dog is on the ice including reporters doing live interviews. This won’t happen the next time Sid wins a Cup.

by virgonomic on Jun 14, 2009 9:03 AM EDT reply actions

More from Crosby

"I really don’t need to talk to anyone from Detroit about it," Crosby said Sunday. "I made the attempt to go shake hands. I’ve been on that side of things, too, I know it’s not easy, waiting around. I just won the Stanley Cup, and I think I have the right to celebrate with my teammates. On their side of things, I understand if they don’t want to wait around. I had no intentions of trying to skip guys and not shake their hands," Crosby said. "I think that was a pretty unreasonable comment. The guys I shook their hands with, they realized I made the attempt. If I could shake half their team’s hands, I’m sure the other half wasn’t too far behind. I don’t know what happened there. I have no regrets. I’ve been on both sides of it, and it’s not fun being on the losing end. But it doesn’t change anything. You still shake hands no matter what."

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by Aditya T (smashville) on Jun 15, 2009 8:28 AM EDT reply actions