Pittsburgh Penguins: F Sidney Crosby Career Conversation

With the Penguins most recent Stanley Cup win, a discussion about Sidney Crosby’s career must be had. Is Crosby the best player of this generation has he propelled himself into a conversation of much more though?

The Sidney Crosby topic must be approached, as the Stanley Cup has officially been wrapped up and Pittsburgh captured their 2nd Stanley Cup championship in back to back years, the consensus this year seemed to be a lot of people rooting for Nashville to win the Stanley Cup.

Pittsburgh Penguins

As the Predators got deeper into the playoffs, the fans and attention Nashville brought in was remarkable for the game of hockey. With Nashville’s, loss and Pittsburgh’s win some may say that a Nashville Stanley Cup win would have been more beneficial for the market of hockey. One thing most people can agree on though is, with his 3rd Stanley Cup win before the age of 30 and back to back Conn Smythe wins, is it realistic to start the conversation that Sidney Crosby could be a top 10 player of all time?

In just the past year Crosby has won his 2nd Stanley Cup, 1st Conn Smythe, the Gold at World Cup, 3rd Stanley Cup and 2nd Conn Smythe, that was all in the time frame of June 12, 2016, to June 11. 2017. Aside from this year with those type of accomplishments that is just a few things on the list of what makes Crosby one of the best players. He is arguably the best player of this generation and now with these type of accomplishments all before the age of 30, Crosby has propelled himself into the conversation of something much greater.

Crosby was one of the youngest captains to win a Stanley Cup when Pittsburgh won back in 2009. All while achieving the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award in 2009 as well along with a list of other accomplishments. Crosby is a 3x Ted Lindsay winner, 2x Hart Trophy winner, 2x Maurice Richard winner, 2x Art Ross winner, 6x All-Star, 2 Olympic Golds, 1 World Cup win plus an MVP honor, 1 World Junior Gold and 1 World Championship Gold, plus 2x Conn Smythe winner and 3x Stanley Cup winner. All before the age of 30, but the list continues that’s all Crosby has accomplished on the ice in regards to individual recognition, as far as his play on the ice.

Crosby has played in 782 career games, 382 goals, 645 assists, and 1,027 points, on top of that his playoff numbers throughout his career, have been some of the best numbers any Pittsburgh Penguin player has posted and any player in the NHL has posted throughout their career in the playoffs. Crosby has played in 148 playoff games, 57 goals, 107 assists and 164 points(19th for all-time playoff points). All this before the age of 30.

Love him or hate him, you cannot discredit Crosby’s accomplishments on the ice and the leader he has been, plus the dynasty he has built in Pittsburgh now capturing Pittsburgh’s 3rd Stanley Cup win in nine years. Crosby definitely does some questionable things on the ice that makes one question him, ridicule him and where most of his “haters” come from. Crosby gets away with some borderline calls and may be seen to be “favored” by the NHL, but he plays with an extremely competitive edge and if he were on any of your favorite teams, you too would love Crosby.

Fans around the NHL seem to bash Crosby because he’s a “baby” or the NHL protects him, agree to disagree but give Crosby some credit, he has been the best player of this generation and is accomplishing most things before the age 30 players before him and currently active did not, he’s accomplished many things most players in the NHL never will or never have.

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Hat tip to Crosby on another great season and the Pittsburgh Penguins on doing the unthinkable, by capturing a back to back Stanley Cup win. Being one of the few teams to capture back to back Stanley Cup wins, first team in 19 years to do it and the first time in the salary cap era to accomplish back to back Stanley Cup wins. Now let the off-season frenzy begin!