“He’s incredible, he just keeps getting better,” new teammate Declan Carlile told sportsnet.ca following a Thursday practice.
Sidney Crosby Claims Longest Tenured Pittsburgh Athlete Record
Wednesday night’s season opener marked Crosby’s 22nd campaign with the Pittsburgh Penguins. That milestone moves the 39-year-old past Pirates great Willie Stargell, who played 21 seasons in Pittsburgh, heavy.com reported. Other franchise legends topped out at 18 seasons, including Roberto Clemente, Honus Wagner, and Ben Roethlisberger.
Crosby enters the season ranked seventh in NHL history with 1,761 career points, encompassing 654 goals and 1,107 assists. According to heavy.com, he needs just 11 points to pass Marcel Dionne at 1,771 and 38 points to pass Ron Francis at 1,798 to climb into the top five all-time. He currently ranks eighth on the all-time assists leaderboard.
Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang Match Franchise Longevity Milestones
Crosby is not alone in reaching historic longevity alongside the Penguins. Longtime teammates Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang both opened their 21st seasons with Pittsburgh on Wednesday, tying Stargell’s previous benchmark, heavy.com reported. The trio captured Stanley Cup titles together in 2009, 2016, and 2017.
“I just believe in what I’ve seen in the past,” Letang told sportsnet.ca regarding the team’s prospects. “Sid can accomplish great things and he’s so influential on the dressing room in his leadership. Geno is the same thing. He wants to be dominant.” Letang added that Malkin does not want to be just a 40-year-old playing his last years, noting that this mentality helped the team fight for a playoff spot last year after many expected them to finish dead-last.
While the trio remains in pursuit of the Cup, sportsnet.ca noted that “Last Dance” comparisons to the 1990s Chicago Bulls are difficult because the Penguins have been out of contention for nearly a decade and Malkin is a year older than Letang and Crosby. In contrast, Michael Jordan was 35, Scottie Pippen 32, and Dennis Rodman 37 during the Bulls’ second three-peat.
Opening Night Statement Route Against the Philadelphia Flyers
The Penguins launched their season with a 7-0 rout against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday. The scoring sequence began when Crosby absorbed an open-ice hit from Rasmus Ristolainen, popped back up to retain possession, cycled the puck to Kris Letang, and watched Nick Robertson net the opening goal, sportsnet.ca reported. Crosby currently holds an NHL record for 21 point-per-game seasons.
Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis noted to sportsnet.ca that Crosby’s sustained excellence stems from daily preparation. “I think he’s a true pro,” St. Louis said. “He’s been like that since his first day in the league.”
Canadiens centre Nick Suzuki, who played with Crosby at the Milano-Cortina Games last February, told sportsnet.ca that seeing Crosby’s daily routine was awesome and that playing with him was “kind of a dream come true.”
Frequently Asked Questions About Sidney Crosby and the Penguins
How many seasons has Sidney Crosby played in Pittsburgh?
Sidney Crosby is playing his 22nd season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, setting a new record for the longest tenure of any professional athlete in Pittsburgh sports history, according to heavy.com.
Which Pittsburgh athletes held the previous longevity records?
Willie Stargell previously held the Pittsburgh record with 21 seasons played for the Pirates. Teammates Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang also reached their 21st seasons on Wednesday to tie Stargell’s mark, per heavy.com reporting.
Where does Sidney Crosby rank on the NHL all-time scoring list?
Crosby enters the season seventh in NHL history with 1,761 total points, sitting behind Marcel Dionne and Ron Francis on the all-time leaderboard as reported by heavy.com.