Sidney Crosby just lately completed his seventeenth season as captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins and performed among the finest hockey of his profession. At 37 years previous, he’s displaying no indicators of slowing down anytime quickly. Final season, he performed in 82 video games and scored 42 objectives with 52 assists for 94 factors. There is no such thing as a denying his expertise, however does he belong in the identical dialog as Penguins’ nice Mario Lemieux?
Objective ScoringÂ
Lemieux spent 17 seasons in Pittsburgh and performed in a complete of 915 video games. He scored 690 objectives and had 1,033 assists over the span of his profession. Crosby, who’s in his twentieth season, has performed in a complete of 1,302 video games and has scored 600 objectives with 1,023 assists. On the floor, it appears like Lemieux is the higher participant, no questions requested. Nevertheless, hockey is an ever-changing sport, and scoring objectives again within the Eighties when Lemieux began taking part in was loads simpler than it’s now.Â
Lemieux led the Penguins to their second straight Stanley Cup through the 1991-92 season. In response to HockeyReference.com, throughout that yr, the league common for objectives for and objectives towards was 278. In the course of the 2016-17 season, the goals-for and goals-against common was 227. That’s 51 extra objectives that groups would rating and permit again then in comparison with now. The argument could possibly be made that when it comes to goal-scoring, Crosby is the higher participant.
PassingÂ
Lemieux’s potential to make clear, sharp passes put him in a category by himself. He was so good at distracting defenders which at all times gave his linemates ample scoring alternatives. In 915 video games, Lemieux racked up 1,033 assists, which put him at twelfth within the NHL for profession assists.Â
Wayne Gretzky sits on the high of this record with 1,963 assists in 1,487 video games. Gordie Howe ranks tenth with 1,049 assists in 1,767 video games. Howe solely recorded 16 extra assists than Lemieux in 852 extra video games. If Lemieux’s profession had not been interrupted by accidents and illness, there isn’t a doubt he can be loads greater on the record.Â
Associated: Penguins’ Issues In opposition to Purple Wings Indicators of Bigger Points
In Crosby’s 1,302 video games, he has 1,023 assists and has seven seasons with 60 or extra assists. His potential to purchase time with the puck and discover his linemates open proper in entrance of the online is one thing few gamers can do in addition to he can. He additionally has a knack for locating the smallest openings to make a go. He’s undoubtedly among the many elite passers within the league, nonetheless, Lemieux will most likely by no means get replaced as the very best all-time help man in Pittsburgh.Â
All-Time GreatsÂ
On Feb. 15, 2024, Crosby scored his thirtieth aim of the season within the Penguins’ 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. This marked his twelfth 30-goal season and surpassed Lemieux for probably the most in franchise historical past. He’s nonetheless competing at a excessive stage and is nonetheless including to his already spectacular resume. He has at all times had a robust work ethic, and his dedication to the staff is clear by the best way that he performs.Â
Lemieux will at all times be a hero within the metropolis of Pittsburgh. He led the Penguins to their first two championships in 1991 and 1992. If it had not been for accidents and his battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, his profession numbers would have been loads greater. He simply belongs within the high three of the all-time NHL greats. There is no such thing as a denying that Crosby is a future Corridor of Famer, however there’ll most likely by no means be one other Lemieux.
