The Spectacular Career of Sidney Crosby

It doesn't seem like Sidney Crosby's been in the NHL for 17 years, and about to enter his 18th. It seems like yesterday that he was a high level pick in the NHL draft, but it was so long ago. I still remember the big buzz about Sidney Crosby, mainly this question: "Wayne Gretzky is The Great One. Is Crosby, 'The Next One'?" I figured Crosby would be an amazing player, but I never thought he'd reach Hall of Fame status, and so quickly!

2005 was a memorable draft, giving us not only Crosby, but Alex Ovechkin as well. Crosby's rookie year was phenomenal: 39 goals, 63 points, 102 points, but it was still just a hair less than Ovechkin, who ended up leading rookies in points, and as for the Pittsburgh Penguins, they finished dead last in the Eastern Conference, with only the St. Louis Blues having a worse record. So the player dubbed, "Sid the Kid," would not get his first taste of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He would never be denied such a thing ever again.

Crosby's second season saw him improve from his rookie season: 36 goals, 84 assists, a whopping 120 points! Though he was denied the Calder in his rookie year, Crosby took home his first NHL trophies by winning the Ross (as his 120 points led the league) as well as the Hart (NHL MVP). In addition, the Penguins reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but their run was very short-lived, losing in five games in the opening round to the Ottawa Senators. In Crosby's first postseason, he racked up five points (3 G/2 A), so he was already on a point-per-game pace in his playoff career. Crosby's third year only saw him play 53 games, but he racked up 72 points (24 G/48 A) as he led the Penguins back to the playoffs. The Penguins reached the Stanley Cup Final that season, their first appearance since 1992, but they lost in six games to the Detroit Red Wings. Crosby's numbers in the 2008 playoffs: 6 goals, 21 assists, 27 points.

The 2008-09 season marked Crosby's third 100+ point season in his first four years (33 G/70 A/103 P), and he would lead the team back to the Stanley Cup Final. This time, the Penguins defeated the Red Wings in seven games, and Crosby led the way: 15 goals, 16 assists, 31 points--his most productive postseason. 2009-10 saw Crosby score a career high 51 goals and win the Rocket Richard Trophy for the first time in his career; though his most famous goal did not come during that NHL season. While representing Canada in the Winter Olympics, Crosby scored the game winning goal in overtime in the Gold Medal Game against the U.S., capturing his first of two Gold Medals in his career. Regarding the NHL, the Penguins could not make a third straight trip to the Final, as they were ousted in the second round by the Montréal Canadiens (seven games).

It was the beginning of a lull for the Penguins, as the next six seasons following their Stanley Cup win would only see them reach the Conference Finals once. Injuries would befall Crosby from 2010-2013, but he would rebound with another Ross and Hart in the 2013-14 season, which saw him finish with 104 points (36 G/68 A). Even so, it was six years since winning the Cup, and I was among many fans wondering if Crosby could still get another one.

The 2015-16 season saw the Penguins win the Stanley Cup for the fourth time in team history, and for Crosby, he captured the Conn Smythe Trophy for the first time, as he had 6 goals, 13 assists, and 19 points overall in the 2016 playoffs. The Penguins repeated their success in the following year, becoming the first teams since the Red Wings in 1997 and 1998 to win back-to-back Stanley Cups. It also came with a second straight Conn Smythe for Crosby, as he had 27 points (8 G/19 A) in the 2017 playoffs. Crosby also scored 44 goals during the 2016-17 regular season, giving him the Richard Trophy for the second time in his career. Crosby cracked 100 points again in the 2018-19 season, but after losing in the second round in the previous year's playoffs to the Washington Capitals, the 2019 campaign saw the Penguins swept in the opening round by the New York Islanders. In fact, the Penguins haven't won a series since 2018, but Crosby's numbers continue to add up.

Now I know that as a Colorado Avalanche fan, I'm supposed to refer to Sidney Crosby as "the other Cole Harbour player" (his buddy, Nathan MacKinnon, is from that same area), but it's a cold hard fact that he's one of the best players in the entire NHL, and has been for 17 years. Crosby will enter the 2022-23 season with 517 goals, 892 assists, and 1,409 points, all totals being second in Penguins history behind--who else?--Mario Lemieux. Look at the accolades Crosby's won in his career, as he celebrates his 35th birthday: three Stanley Cups, two Conn Smythes, eight All-Star selections, two Hart Trophies, two Ross Trophies, three Ted Lindsay Awards, two Richard Trophies, and two Olympic Gold Medals.

Crosby's not done yet; he has three years left in the extension he signed on June 1, 2012. Does he retire when the deal's up? Maybe. He has nothing else to prove and he could become the all-time franchise leader in points by then. Does he add a fourth Cup in his career? Time will tell. The Penguins have made 16 straight playoff appearances, and as long as Crosby's there (along with Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang), that streak should continue. But even if he doesn't win another Cup, there is no doubt that Crosby is a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame once his stellar and legendary career comes to a close.