When we last saw Sidney Crosby doing anything of note, he was attempting to pick a fight with the largest man in the NHL. At the time everyone chuckled at the false bravado.

There wasn’t a chance in hell that the Penguin with the paper mache jaw (that had just been surgically repaired) was going to take on a seven foot giant. As the referee separated the two, Crosby gave Zdeno Chara a shove, marking the last time he made an impact on a Boston Bruin in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Prior to Crosby’s encounter with the monstrous Boston defenseman, he had a “who’s going to blink first” 7th grade shoulder bump with Boston goalie Tuukka Rask. Rask turned to Crosby as if to say “Really?” Crosby continued to jaw at the Bruin net minder until Chara came over to lay the law down.

This is the Sidney Crosby that draws the scorn of NHL fans across the land. The very same petulant, spoiled behavior that everyone witnessed last Spring when the Penguins were unceremoniously dumped out of the playoffs by their hated rivals from Philadelphia. When the Pens and Crosby hit a wall, they seemed to lose their composure. The Game 1 antics were the first red flag that should have told everyone that the series was already over.

The Penguins fell apart in Game 2, losing 6-1 in the only non-competitive game of the series. To the Pens credit and particularly to Crosby’s the childish garbage ceased. It was clear that the Penguins had absolutely lost their focus, and forfeited their home ice advantage.

I’m not writing to say that Sidney Crosby isn’t the best player in the world, because I believe that he is. I don’t think that anyone works harder at their craft to improve their game than Crosby. He has taken the deficiencies in his overall play (face-offs, defensive play) and turned them into strengths. The next challenge for Crosby to reach the next level will be the most difficult and could be unattainable. That deficiency sits between his ears.

For Crosby to go down as one of the all time greats, and he probably will simply by staying healthy, he needs a more impressive postseason resume. He was the youngest captain to win a Stanley Cup with the 2009 Penguins, but since then has been noted more for playoff flameouts.

My contention with Crosby is that he needs to stay focused on who he is as a player and his role as a captain. What I mean is, let the gritty players crosscheck after the whistle. Skate away from the scrums. People already call him names that rhyme with wussy, so why the need to act like a tough guy? Given his history of head injuries, it doesn’t make him look tough, it makes him look stupid.

Historically great leaders lead with the fire and brimstone impassioned speeches or quietly lead by example. Crosby seems like he wants to do everything and be everything, which never ends well and can alienate teammates. With the Penguins favored to get to the Stanley Cup Final, and after all of the trades and hype, this season will have to be somewhat disappointing for Pittsburgh. The captain, like the quarterback in football, will take most of the blame in defeat.

Rumors started surfacing after the Pittsburgh offseason began that coach Dan Bylsma’s job could be in jeopardy. Additionally, Crosby’s running buddy Evgeni Malkin’s name has come up in trade rumors. I can’t fathom that Ray Shero, the genius that engineered so many one-sided trades fro the Pens, has already lost patience in an above average coach and arguably the (second) best player in the world.

This is where the rebuilding starts for Sidney Crosby. He needs to step in front of a microphone and assume some culpability for the loss to Boston. Whether he believes he was singularly responsible for the loss or not (he wasn’t by the way), the message will be sent to his team, coach and fans that he now has accountability listed among his talents. I may not be a member of the Crosby fan club, but I appreciate greatness and want to see him reach his potential.

Keep your coach, keep Malkin, because you’ll need them both if you want to lift another Stanley Cup. Gretzky had Messier, Yzerman had Fedorov, Trottier had Potvin and Bossy and more specifically and personally, Lemieux had Jagr. Crosby can’t do it alone, and I believe that he thinks he can. The Penguins have more than a few Stanley Cups at their fingertips simply by keeping this team together, but it starts with their captain.

Hopefully Sidney Crosby can find some time away from the ice this summer and enjoy being a young, successful millionaire. Decompress, spend some quality time in front of the mirror. Take a good look inward, drink a couple of Molson’s and come back next fall re-energized for a full NHL tilt.