Sidney Crosby got the Pittsburgh Penguins to a great start, with a 5-2-0 record this season. They’re currently on a three-game winning streak after losing two consecutive games: A 4-3 loss to the Ducks and a 6-1 loss to the Rangers.
This start comes after the team finished second last in the Metropolitan Division last season with a 34-36-12 record. They also missed the playoffs for the third straight season. On Thursday, they next face the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers.
Will Sidney Crosby Reach Wayne Gretzky’s or Jaromír Jágr’s Point Totals?
Crosby currently has 1,695 career points, having scored four goals and four assists (8 points) in seven games this season. He is just five away from joining the exclusive “1,700 Club, ” which only eight players in the NHL have reached.
Wayne Gretzky leads the group with 2,857 points, followed by Jaromír Jágr (1,921), Mark Messier (1,887), Gordie Howe (1,850), Ron Francis (1,798), Marcel Dionne (1,771), Steve Yzerman (1,755), and Mario Lemieux (1,723).
Crosby is in the first year of his two-year, $17.4 million deal. With 90-plus points in each of his last three seasons, he’s showing no signs of slowing down, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him continue playing after this deal ends. If he keeps up this pace, he could climb into the top five all-time in points, maybe even pass Jagr’s 1,921. Gretzky’s 2,857, though, will remain untouchable.
When asked by NHL.com about closing in on some of hockey’s greatest names, he was quick to downplay it. “I don’t. I don’t put myself in that category at all.” he said. “I think they’re in a whole other category of their own. … I just have so much appreciation and respect for what they did and just what they accomplished. I don’t look at it the same way.”
Now in his 21st NHL season, Crosby isn’t hinting at retirement anytime soon, though he knows he’s closer to the end than the beginning.
Also Read: Penguins Insider Reveals Why Sidney Crosby’s Teammate Is Mad at Pittsburgh Bosses
For him, what matters most isn’t the record books, it’s the legacy he leaves behind. “I think just trying to be a good role model, good example, good teammate…” Crosby said. “When you’re in the position we’re in, you have a pretty good opportunity to help make a difference on and off the ice. So, I think those things you try to keep in mind, regardless of playing in the NHL or not.”
As Crosby continues to climb the all-time ranks, his impact both statistically and personally has already been etched in hockey history.
