Sidney Crosby has nothing left to prove. There is a spot waiting for him in the Hockey Hall of Fame once his decorated career ends.
That has not stopped Crosby from playing at a near-elite level at age 36. The Pittsburgh Penguins have disappointed so far this season, but their captain has done anything but. Crosby is on pace for the 13th 80-point season of his career, which would be tied for second most in NHL history. He is one point from tying Joe Thornton for 12th on the all-time scoring list.
“I understand how hard you have to work to play at this level,” Crosby told reporters last month. “Each and every year, the guys that are coming in are so skilled and so fast. It’s not easy, so a lot of work goes into it.”
Most, if not all, of the league’s young stars at the forward position have modeled themselves on Crosby, who helped revitalize the NHL following the 2004-05 lockout. The skills that made Crosby special back then, such as his preternatural vision, still exist today. He also remains an absolute load around the net, scoring half of his 20 goals this season from the slot, including nine from the inner slot.
Crosby long ago perfected the art of puck protection, using his sturdy frame to hold off defenders. His 14.3 turnover percentage in the offensive zone, which is tied for sixth best among 439 qualified forwards (minimum 100 minutes), is even more impressive considering how much he handles the puck. Only six forwards have more offensive-zone puck touches than Crosby (939).
In his 19th season, Crosby is winning a career-high 60.8 per cent of his faceoffs, demonstrating his constant desire to improve. The Penguins average 2.04 shots on net per 20 minutes following Crosby faceoff wins in the offensive zone — the best mark in the league. (Shots that come within five seconds of a successful draw are counted.)
On Tuesday, Crosby will face his greatest rival, Alex Ovechkin, for the 92nd time in their careers (regular season and playoffs). While Ovechkin has endured his worst start to a season with seven goals in 34 games, Crosby has barely missed a beat.
“Every time we win I think he has an impact on the result,” Penguins defenceman Kris Letang told reporters. “We see the goals and the assists, the spectacular plays, but he does so many little things that people don’t see. I think every night he’s the one who makes the difference.”
