Since the 2005-06 season, Sidney Crosby has remained with one team: the Pittsburgh Penguins. Throughout his career, he has taken part in 1339 games, achieving an impressive tally of 615 goals, 1054 assists, and a total of 1669 points. And would you believe it? During his time with the Penguins, he has secured three Stanley Cups. That clearly displays Cosby’s commitment and effort, showing us why he secured his place as a Hall of Famer for the franchise.

Over the years, he has been under the guidance of several coaches, but since 2015, Mike Sullivan has taken the helm, leading the team to two Stanley Cup victories. Despite the challenges faced by the Penguins this season, Sullivan has consistently acknowledged the significant contribution that Crosby makes to the team.

During a recent conversation with Kevin Weekes on NHL Network’s X profile, the Penguins coach remarked, “Well, we’ll run out of time for me to discuss. It’s a long list, as you guys know. I’ve had the privilege to coach Sid for a decade now, and I’ve also had the challenge of coaching against him for a lot of years before I got to Pittsburgh. So I’ve been on both benches, and when I was on the other bench, everybody can see and appreciate the talent that he has on the ice.”

Sullivan has held multiple coaching positions across different teams in the NHL. Throughout these periods, he has observed Crosby competing against his teams. He consistently recognized the Canadian hockey star as a once-in-a-lifetime talent. And Crosby consistently validated that belief every time he stepped onto the ice.

Additionally, when discussing the personality of #87, Sullivan remarked, “I just think he represents everything that’s right about our sport. First and foremost, he carries himself with such humility and grace off the ice. The way he represents our game and the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL for me is a great lesson for all of us. He’s arguably the greatest player of his generation, one of the greatest players of all time. He just carries himself with such humility.”

Under his guidance, Sullivan has developed numerous players, but Crosby stands out in a league of his own, far surpassing many others. The #87 consistently demonstrated commitment both on and off the ice. And according to the coach, everything the player does positively impacts the sport of hockey. Indeed, many recognize Sid the Kid, but it’s worth noting that he is approaching a significant record held by one of the sport’s greatest players.

Sidney Crosby chasing greatness

Recently on X, an intriguing statistic about Sidney Crosby was shared by @ChelPenguins, who noted, “Sidney Crosby is 8 points from his 20th point-per-game season. Since age 18, he’s never been below a PPG. Wayne Gretzky hit 19 straight before falling short in year 20. Crosby nearly retired in his prime due to concussions. We’re witnessing history—arguably the most impressive.”

This statistic highlights Crosby’s unwavering commitment to the franchise and his exceptional performance that sets him apart from the rest of the roster. #87 has committed 19 complete seasons to the franchise, and the 2024-25 season will signify his 20th upon the conclusion of the regular season. Once he secures 8 more points, he will break Wayne Gretzky’s PPG record. In those days, The Great One showcased his remarkable talent by playing for an astounding 19 consecutive seasons. And this was all while consistently upholding his points per game average.

Nevertheless, his 20th season proved to be disappointing, causing him to miss the mark in maintaining that impressive record. Despite the challenges, Crosby’s quest for this milestone proved to be a formidable endeavor. He encountered many difficulties arising from concussion-related injuries during the period from 2010 to 2012. Nevertheless, in the face of numerous retirement speculations at that time, Crosby made a remarkable recovery from these injuries, and the rest is now part of history.