Pittsburgh Penguins: Sidney Crosby’s Top 5 Career Moments

Rise To Stardom

Crosby’s rise to stardom for the Pittsburgh Penguins was a very fast one. He won his first Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy in just his second season, leading the NHL with 120 points. Even though Crosby missed 29 games during the 2007-08 season, he still finished with 72 points in 53 games.

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Sid The Kid took the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals that season. However, he experienced a crushing defeat, as he had to watch the Detroit Red Wings celebrate. Crosby might have led the postseason with 27 points, but it didn’t matter because he didn’t win. They say defeat is a great motivator, and it sure was for the Penguins. Pittsburgh went on to win the Stanley Cup one year later, besting the Red Wings in seven games. For the first time in his career, Crosby was a Stanley Cup champion.

He won his first Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL’s top goal scorer during the 2009-10 season. Crosby sat on the throne as the world’s greatest hockey player. However, he didn’t remain on it for long. The 2011 Winter Classic saw Sid The Kid get a nasty hit to the head by Capitals forward Dave Steckel. A subsequent hit to the head by Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman caused him to be sidelined indefinitely. His career was in jeopardy.

The Return

Crosby remained on the sideline for what seemed like an eternity. He was skating in practice for a while, but constantly had the “no contact” jersey on. Pittsburgh Penguins fans feared they had seen the last of him. But nine months later, he made his return in November of 2011. A little over five minutes into the game against the New York Islanders, Crosby showed he was back by scoring. Overall, Sid The Kid had two goals and two assists in the game.

He had four multi-point games in his first five games back from the concussion. However, Crosby later felt concussion symptoms after just seven games. This once again put him on the sideline. Crosby took his time getting back, but he made his second return against the New York Rangers in March of 2012.

Sid The Kid overcame the first mountain of adversity he faced in his NHL career. And he passed the test with flying colors. In just 22 games in 2011-12, he had 37 points. Crosby added eight points in six playoff games, giving him 45 points in 28 games.

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Despite missing 12 games in the lockout shortened 2012-13 season, he put up 56 points in 36 games. His 1.56 points per game led the entire NHL. Crosby won the Lester Pearson Trophy as the player’s pick for most outstanding player, but finished second to Ovechkin in the Hart Trophy race.