Crosby has a total of 1,925 points (716 goals, 1,209 assists) in the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs, the most in Penguins history ahead of Lemieux (1,895 points; 766 goals, 1,129 assists). He is seventh all-time, trailing Gretzky (3,237), Messier (2,181), Jagr (2,122), Howe (2,010), Ron Francis (1,941) and Steve Yzerman (1,940).
“You’re watching history. You’re seeing it firsthand,” Penguins coach Dan Muse said. “I mean, it’s something you knew was coming, but just for everybody that was here today, everybody involved, it was incredible. For Sid, it’s just, yeah, he’s obviously such a humble person, but you know how special of a moment that has to be. I think back, even just conversations that I had with him just getting to know him, and you see how much pride he has in this organization and the history of this organization. What’s been accomplished here for a team, especially a team that’s not an Original Six team, but what’s been won, the legends that have come through here, and now for him to break that record, yeah, it’s nothing short of incredible. … You see the process that he has, the drive that he has, how that rubs off on probably every other player that he’s ever played with, which has been a lot. Then you see a day like today where he has that moment, and it’s incredible and it’s very well-deserved. It’s no surprise when you see what he does on a regular basis, on an everyday basis.”
Named to the 100 Greatest NHL Players in January 2017, Crosby has won the Stanley Cup three times. At the age of 21, he became the youngest captain of a championship team when Pittsburgh defeated the Detroit Red Wings in seven games in the 2009 Stanley Cup Final before winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2016 and 2017.
Crosby won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP and the Art Ross Trophy as the League’s leader in points in 2006-07 and 2013-14, the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the goals leader in 2009-10 and 2016-17, and the Ted Lindsay Award as the most outstanding player as voted by the NHL Players’ Association in 2006-07, 2012-13 and 2013-14.
“I love the game,” Crosby told NHL.com on Oct. 22. “I love the history of the game, you know, the tradition side of it. I think that you go throughout the history of hockey, everyone had people they looked up to or people that they feel like made an impact in the game. So, to be associated that way, I think that means more than anything, for sure.”
The native of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, earned recognition on Dec. 29, 2022, as an Officer of the Order of Canada “for being one of the greatest hockey players of all time and for supporting community service initiatives for youth.” The Order of Canada is one of the country’s highest honors, recognizing people across all sectors of society who have made extraordinary and sustained contributions.
“I think 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,” Crosby said. “So, I think those things you try to keep in mind and those have been, regardless of in the NHL or not, those are things that I think when you grow up playing for teams or you’re playing for your community, your local team, you still try to represent them well and you try to help your community and represent your community.
“So, I think when you get to the NHL, it’s on a much greater stage, but it’s the same thing. So, I think that’s all part of it.”
NHL.com independent correspondent Wes Crosby and Sean Farrell contributed to this report.