Watch CBS News

Ex-Penguin Rick Tocchet: Only 'Idiots' Call Sidney Crosby Soft

PITTSBURGH (93-7 The Fan) - Former Pittsburgh Penguin Rick Tocchet joins Vinnie & Cook on Sportsradio 93-7 The Fan Tuesday afternoon.

In March 1992, Tocchet suffered a broken jaw after taking a puck to the face, yet he returned later in the same game and scored two goals. After missing the next game, Tocchet returned to the ice and helped lead the Penguins to a Stanley Cup. Tocchet provides his insight on the differences between his injury and Sidney Crosby's broken jaw.

According to Tocchet, Crosby's biggest challenge in the weeks ahead will be "to make sure that he keeps his nutrients with the food in the blender. He's going to have to eat a lot of stuff from a blender, so he won't be chewing on any steaks. He'll be fine that way. I don't think he's going to miss that much of a beat."

Tocchet has also noticed that some of Crosby's critics are calling him soft, and he has a message for those critics.

"That's very unfair," Tocchet says. "For people to call him soft, they're idiots. It's a stupid statement for someone to say that he's soft."

Tocchet also sizes up this year's Penguins squad, looks back on the 1993 team that currently holds the NHL-record 17-game winning streak, and regrets that he couldn't turn that streak into a Cup.

Former Penguin Rick Tocchet

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.