Sidney Crosby has been one of the best players in the NHL since he joined the league after being selected first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2005. Now, over two decades later, Crosby is still holding strong, building a legacy in the city and beyond.
Crosby’s place on the all-time points and assists lists has been discussed at length all season long, and a milestone that fans have been waiting for finally happened Sunday night. The longtime Pittsburgh captain passed Mario Lemieux for the most points in franchise history with a multi-point game against the Montreal Canadiens. It’s been a long time coming, as Lemieux (1,723 points in 915 games played) has held the mark for the Penguins since January 20, 1989.
The Nova Scotia native also passed Lemieux for eighth place on the all-time NHL points list during Sunday’s contest. Crosby could climb up the list again this season, as he is now aiming to pass Steve Yzerman. Yzerman, who tallied 1,755 points in 1,514 games played, holds sole possession of seventh place, but could soon move down the list due to Crosby’s production. Given that there are 47 games left on the Penguins’ schedule this season, Crosby will have ample opportunities to further his tally and add another milestone to his 2025-26 campaign.
The Penguins won’t be the only team benefiting from Crosby’s production this season. The veteran was named to Team Canada’s Olympic roster on June 16th and will look to captain the team during his third Olympic appearance. Crosby captained Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off last February as well as the 2025 Men’s Championships last May, so he has plenty of recent experience with the team.
Crosby might not be the biggest offensive threat on a team with the likes of Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, but that’s not all he brings to the table. The veteran has the ability to provide the experience needed to lead the team to a gold medal, and that will come in handy during the condensed Olympic schedule.
The captain has had nothing but good things to say about getting to go to the Olympics, and it’ll be a pleasure to see him on an international stage once again. The Canadians will have quite the team based on who they’ve already named to the roster, no doubt about it. Seeing Crosby play alongside some of the best in the game will be great for everyone, no matter who you root for, and it can’t come soon enough.
The 2025-26 season hasn’t been kind to the Penguins, despite a hot start and a youth movement that showed a lot of potential. The team sits in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division entering play Monday, and is seeing its playoff hopes diminish as the season progresses. Crosby hasn’t let that stop him, as the 37-year-old is still leading the team in the only way he knows how.
Crosby’s 35 points and 19 goals are the most among Pittsburgh players through 35 games this season, showcasing his ability to contribute despite team struggles. Playing on a struggling team is a difficult thing to do as one of the best to ever play the game, but Crosby seems to be taking it in stride. His production could even inspire some success for Pittsburgh after the holiday break, seeing as you can never actually count out Sidney Crosby.
There’s a lot to be said about Crosby in terms of success, and rightfully so. The longtime star has had a lot of ups and downs throughout his long career, but it seems like he’s always tried to make the most of it. Although the Penguins haven’t had the success they’ve hoped for recently, Crosby provides a bright light for the organization by staying the same player he has always been.
Being able to witness a once-in-a-generation player like Crosby has no doubt inspired so many to get into the sport, and it shows even decades later. His ability to play at such a high level for so long is impressive and shouldn’t be overlooked, even though it’s been quite a while. Seeing him still playing at an elite level in 2025 is one of the best parts of this season, and I can’t wait to watch him during the Olympics and beyond.
There hasn’t been any indication as to when Crosby decides to hang it up, so we’d better appreciate him while we still can. Hockey fans won’t be seeing another player like him for a long time, maybe even ever again. For now, though, it’s amazing to see greatness day in and day out, for as long as that may be.
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