Career Timeline of Sidney Crosby: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of Sidney Crosby, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Sidney Crosby, a Canadian professional ice hockey player, captains the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL. Drafted first overall in 2005, he was highly touted and nicknamed "Sid the Kid" and "The Next One". Widely considered one of the greatest hockey players ever, Crosby was born and raised in Halifax.
1974: Conn Smythe Trophy history
In 1974, Crosby also won his second consecutive Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs, only the third player to do so after Bernie Parent (1974, 1975) and Mario Lemieux (1991, 1992).
1975: Conn Smythe Trophy history
In 1975, Crosby also won his second consecutive Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs, only the third player to do so after Bernie Parent (1974, 1975) and Mario Lemieux (1991, 1992).
1991: Conn Smythe Trophy history
In 1991, Crosby also won his second consecutive Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs, only the third player to do so after Bernie Parent (1974, 1975) and Mario Lemieux (1991, 1992).
1992: Conn Smythe Trophy history
In 1992, Crosby also won his second consecutive Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs, only the third player to do so after Bernie Parent (1974, 1975) and Mario Lemieux (1991, 1992).
1992: Finals Appearance
In 1992, the Penguins reached the final round for the first time since 1992.
1997: Penguins repeat as Stanley Cup champions
In 1997, The Penguins became the first team to repeat as Stanley Cup champions since the 1997–98 Detroit Red Wings, and the first to do so in the salary cap era (since 2005–06).
2001: MJAHL Draft
In 2001, Sidney Crosby was drafted by the Truro Bearcats in the MJAHL Draft as a 13-year-old.
2001: Playoff Appearance
In 2001, the Penguins made their first playoff appearance since 2001.
2002: Air Canada Cup
In 2002, Sidney Crosby led Dartmouth to a second-place finish at the Air Canada Cup, scoring a combined 217 regular season and playoff points. Crosby was named the MVP and Top Scorer at the national tournament at the tournament banquet after the preliminary round and finished the tournament with 24 points (11 goals and 13 assists) in 7 games.
2003: Selected in Midget Draft
In 2003, Sidney Crosby was selected first overall in the Midget Draft by the Rimouski Océanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
July 17, 2004: WHA Entry Draft
On July 17, 2004, Sidney Crosby was selected first overall by Toronto in the World Hockey Association (WHA) entry draft, a league proposed to rival the NHL.
2004: "Sidney Crosby Lottery"
Due to the labour lockout that suspended the entire 2004–05 NHL season, positioning for the 2005 draft was conducted via a weighted lottery based on each team's playoff appearances and draft lottery victories in the last four years. This lottery system led to the draft being popularly referred to as the "Sidney Crosby Lottery" or the "Sidney Crosby Sweepstakes".
2004: Continued Dominance
During the 2004-05 season, Sidney Crosby continued dominating the league, leading it with 66 goals, 102 assists, and 168 points over 62 games to capture his second consecutive Beliveau Trophy.
2004: Draft Rivalry Begins
In 2004, Alexander Ovechkin was drafted first overall, beginning a rivalry with Crosby that would help define the league for over a decade.
2004: Jersey Auctioned for Earthquake Relief
In January 2005, Sidney Crosby's white jersey from the World Junior Hockey Championship was auctioned for CA$22,100, with proceeds going to youth hockey charities and relief efforts for the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. The jersey was temporarily delisted while the red jersey was missing.
July 30, 2005: Drafted by Pittsburgh Penguins
On July 30, 2005, Sidney Crosby was selected first overall in the NHL draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
September 2005: Crosby's Jersey Top Seller
From September 2005 to February 2008, Sidney Crosby's number 87 Pittsburgh Penguins jersey was the top seller on the NHL's website, marking his immediate impact on the league's merchandise sales.
October 5, 2005: NHL Debut
On October 5, 2005, Sidney Crosby made his NHL debut against the New Jersey Devils. He registered an assist on the team's first goal of the season, which was scored by Mark Recchi, though the team lost 5-1.
December 15, 2005: Michel Therrien replaces Ed Olczyk
On December 15, 2005, Michel Therrien replaced Ed Olczyk as the Penguins head coach.
2005: Crosby's rookie season
In 2005, Sidney Crosby began his NHL career as a rookie and was widely regarded as the league's best player.
2005: Memorial Cup Final
In 2005, Sidney Crosby led his club, the Rimouski Océanic, to the Memorial Cup final.
2005: Drafted into NHL
In 2005, Sidney Crosby was selected first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL entry draft, marking a significant moment in his career.
2005: World Junior Championship Gold
In 2005, Sidney Crosby won gold at the World Junior Championships, marking an early international achievement.
2005: Penguins in salary cap era
In 2005, The Penguins became the first team to repeat as Stanley Cup champions in the salary cap era (since 2005–06).
2005: Crosby's Impact on the Pittsburgh Penguins
In 2005, drafting Sidney Crosby significantly changed the trajectory of the struggling Pittsburgh Penguins. His arrival helped secure funding for a new arena and ended speculation about the franchise relocating. In the 2005–06 season, his presence boosted Pittsburgh's attendance by 33% and reinvigorated hockey in the Pittsburgh area.
October 28, 2006: First NHL Hat-Trick
On October 28, 2006, Crosby scored his first NHL hat-trick during an 8-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.
January 2007: Mark Messier Leadership Award
In January 2007, Sidney Crosby received the Mark Messier Leadership Award for the first time, an award recognizing leadership, on-ice performance, motivation, and community dedication.
May 31, 2007: Named Team Captain
On May 31, 2007, Sidney Crosby was named the Pittsburgh Penguins' team captain, making him the youngest team captain in NHL history at 19 years, 9 months, and 24 days old.
July 10, 2007: Contract Extension
On July 10, 2007, Crosby signed a five-year, $43.5 million contract extension with the Penguins, ensuring his stay with the team through the 2012-13 season.
2007: All-Star Game Participation
In 2007, Crosby participated in his first NHL All-Star Game since 2007, winning the shooting accuracy segment of the Skills Competition.
2007: Crosby's Jersey Sales and Charity Auction
In 2007, Sidney Crosby's jersey from his third NHL game was auctioned for $21,010 to benefit Hurricane Katrina relief, and his game-worn jersey from the first period of the 2007 All-Star Game fetched US$47,520 in an online auction for Hockey Fights Cancer.
2007: Team Captaincy
Sidney Crosby started the 2007-08 season with the team's captaincy.
2007: Contract Signing
Sidney Crosby's 2007 contract signing of $8.7 million per year reflects his birthdate (8/7/87).
February 2008: Crosby's Jersey Top Seller
From September 2005 to February 2008, Sidney Crosby's number 87 Pittsburgh Penguins jersey was the top seller on the NHL's website, marking his immediate impact on the league's merchandise sales.
October 18, 2008: Milestone Night
On October 18, 2008, Crosby reached milestones of 100 goals, 200 assists, and 300 points against the Toronto Maple Leafs, while teammate Evgeni Malkin recorded his 200th point as well.
2008: Stanley Cup Finals
In 2008, Sidney Crosby led the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they were defeated by the Detroit Red Wings in six games.
2009: Stanley Cup Victory
In 2009, Crosby won his first Stanley Cup title in seven games against the Detroit Red Wings, becoming the youngest NHL captain to win the Stanley Cup since 1895 at 21 years, 10 months, and 5 days.
2009: Sidney Crosby Foundation Established
In 2009, Sidney Crosby created the Sidney Crosby Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting charities that benefit children, reflecting his commitment to giving back to the community.
2009: Mark Messier Leadership Award
In 2009-10, Sidney Crosby received the Mark Messier Leadership Award and scored 51 goals.
May 29, 2010: Crosby Signs Richest Endorsement Contract with Reebok
On May 29, 2010, it was announced that Sidney Crosby would sign the richest endorsement contract in NHL history with Reebok, expected to pay Crosby $1.4 million per year for five to seven years.
November 5, 2010: 25-Game Point Streak Begins
On November 5, 2010, Sidney Crosby began a 25-game point streak against the Anaheim Ducks.
December 28, 2010: 25-Game Point Streak Ends
On December 28, 2010, Sidney Crosby's 25-game point streak ended against the New York Islanders.
2010: Crosby at the 2010 Winter Olympics
At the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Sidney Crosby, as captain and first-line centre for Canada, experienced challenges with line chemistry as the coaching staff sought players who could match his pace. Teammate Rick Nash noted Crosby's exceptional speed and hockey sense, which made him difficult to keep up with. Assistant coach Ken Hitchcock praised Crosby's anticipation and ability to create scoring chances. The year was 2010.
2010: Hart Memorial Trophy Finalist
In 2009–10, Crosby was the runner-up for the Art Ross Trophy and a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy.
2010: Olympic Gold Medal
In 2010, Sidney Crosby scored the game-winning goal in overtime against the United States in the gold medal game at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, securing a significant international victory for Canada.
November 21, 2011: Return from Concussion
On November 21, 2011, Sidney Crosby returned to play against the New York Islanders, scoring two goals and two assists after missing time due to concussion symptoms.
2011: Concussion
In early 2011, Sidney Crosby sustained a concussion, sidelining him for the rest of the season and most of the 2011–12 campaign.
March 15, 2012: Second Return from Concussion Symptoms
On March 15, 2012, Sidney Crosby returned to action for the second time after concussion symptoms, recording two assists in a win against the New York Rangers.
June 28, 2012: Contract Extension with the Penguins
On June 28, 2012, Sidney Crosby agreed to a 12-year, $104.4 million contract extension with the Penguins, keeping him in Pittsburgh through the 2024-25 NHL season.
2012: Contract Duration
In 2012, Crosby's contract extension with the Penguins was still active through the 2012-13 season.
January 2013: Strong Start to Season
In January 2013, after the lockout, Sidney Crosby had a strong start to the season, scoring 31 points in the first 21 games.
2013: 100-point Mark
During the 2018–19 season, Crosby passed Mario Lemieux to become the Penguins' all-time leader in games played (916), and moved into second place on the Pens' all-time scoring list with his 440th career goal in a 5–1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on March 3. Two days later, he became the 48th player in NHL history to score at least 1,200 career points against the Florida Panthers. He finished the season with 100 points (35 goals and 65 assists), the first time he has reached the 100-point mark since scoring 104 points in 2013–14.
2013: Second Ted Lindsay Award
In 2013, Sidney Crosby won his second career Ted Lindsay Award.
2013: Conference Finals appearance
In 2013, The Penguins advanced to their first conference finals since 2013, Crosby scored the overtime winner against the Tampa Bay Lightning in game two.
November 26, 2014: 800th Career Point
On November 26, 2014, Sidney Crosby scored his 800th career point against the Toronto Maple Leafs, becoming the sixth-fastest player in NHL history to reach the milestone.
2014: Crosby at the 2014 Winter Olympics
At the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Sidney Crosby, as captain and first-line centre for Canada, experienced challenges with line chemistry as the coaching staff sought players who could match his pace. Teammate Rick Nash noted Crosby's exceptional speed and hockey sense, which made him difficult to keep up with. The year was 2014.
2014: Second Olympic Gold Medal
In 2014, Sidney Crosby captained Team Canada at the Winter Olympics, winning his second consecutive Olympic gold medal.
2014: Hart Memorial Trophy
In 2014, Sidney Crosby won the Hart Memorial Trophy, his second career Art Ross Trophy, and his second consecutive Ted Lindsay Award.
April 1, 2015: 300th Career NHL Goal
On April 1, 2015, in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Sidney Crosby scored his 300th career NHL goal.
July 2015: Jonathan Quick Praises Crosby's Backhand Shot
In July 2015, Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings lauded Sidney Crosby in The Players' Tribune, citing Crosby as having "the best backhand shot" in the NHL, due to his flat blade and forearm strength enabling quick forehand-to-backhand transitions.
December 12, 2015: Johnston fired as head coach
On December 12, 2015, Mike Johnston was fired as head coach of the Penguins after posting a 15-10-3 record through 28 games, leading some media outlets to speculate that Sidney Crosby's prime scoring years were behind him.
2015: Crosby Signs Endorsement Contract with Adidas
In 2015, Sidney Crosby signed a six-year endorsement contract with Adidas, adding to his portfolio of endorsements. He also has endorsement deals with Bell, Tim Hortons, and Gatorade.
2015: Crosby Starts Hockey School and Little Penguins Program
In 2015, Sidney Crosby started a hockey school in Cole Harbour and initiated the "Little Penguins Program," which has provided free equipment and lessons to over ten thousand local youngsters in Pittsburgh, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to developing youth hockey.
September 2016: Wayne Gretzky praises Crosby
In September 2016, Wayne Gretzky praised Sidney Crosby by calling him "the best player in the game today", emphasizing Crosby's consistent impact, especially in important games.
October 2016: Mario Lemieux praises Crosby's play
In October 2016, Mario Lemieux praised Sidney Crosby for being a more complete player, highlighting his defensive improvements over the past couple of years.
2016: Stanley Cup Championship
In 2016, Sidney Crosby led Pittsburgh to another Stanley Cup championship.
2016: Penguins clinch playoff berth
On April 2, 2016, Sidney Crosby recorded his 600th NHL assist as the Penguins clinched their berth in the 2016 playoffs.
January 27, 2017: Crosby Named One of the 100 Greatest NHL Players
On January 27, 2017, Sidney Crosby was honored as one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history during a ceremony at the All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles.
February 16, 2017: Crosby reaches 1,000 NHL points
On February 16, 2017, Sidney Crosby reached 1,000 NHL points with an assist on a Chris Kunitz goal against the Winnipeg Jets, achieving the milestone in his 757th game.
2017: Stanley Cup Championship
In 2017, Sidney Crosby led Pittsburgh to another Stanley Cup championship and became the third player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP) in consecutive years.
2017: Second Richard Trophy and NHL Top 100
In 2017, Sidney Crosby won his second Richard Trophy and was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history.
2017: Crosby's season performance
In the 2017–18 season, Crosby appeared in all 82 of Pittsburgh's regular season games for the first time in his career, finishing with 29 goals and 60 assists for 89 points.
February 11, 2018: Crosby scores 400th NHL goal
On February 11, 2018, Sidney Crosby scored his 400th NHL goal against Jake Allen of the St. Louis Blues, becoming the 95th player in NHL history to reach the milestone.
April 2018: Players and coaches highlight Crosby's work ethic
In an April 2018 article for The Washington Post, players, teammates, and coaches emphasized Sidney Crosby's work ethic and dedication to greatness as key factors in his sustained NHL success.
December 31, 2018: Crosby plays 900th NHL game
On December 31, 2018, Sidney Crosby played his 900th NHL game in a 3–2 win over the Minnesota Wild, becoming the second player in Penguins history to reach the mark.
January 3, 2019: All-Star MVP Award
On January 3, 2019, Crosby was selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game and won his first All-Star MVP award, making him the sixth in NHL history to have won that award after having won the Conn Smythe Trophy and Hart Memorial Trophy.
March 2019: Mike Sullivan Describes Crosby as the Heartbeat of the Penguins
In March 2019, Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan described Sidney Crosby as the "best 200-foot player in the game" and the "heartbeat" of the Penguins, recognizing his impact on both ends of the ice.
March 2019: Crosby Regarded as Best All-Around NHL Player by Peers
In March 2019, an anonymous survey conducted by The Athletic revealed that Sidney Crosby was regarded as the best all-around NHL player by his peers, affirming his comprehensive skill set and impact on the game.
January 2020: NHL All-Decade First Team selection
In January 2020, Sidney Crosby was selected to the NHL All-Decade First Team.
2020: Pandemic-shortened season
In the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season, Crosby led the team in scoring with 62 points (24 goals and 38 assists), and was the recipient of the team's MVP Award and the Players' Player Award.
February 20, 2021: Crosby plays 1,000th game with Penguins
On February 20, 2021, Sidney Crosby became the first player in Penguins history to play 1,000 games with the franchise in a 3–2 win over the New York Islanders.
2021: Ted Lindsay Award Finalist
In 2021, Crosby was a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award
February 15, 2022: Crosby Scored 500th Career Goal
On February 15, 2022, Sidney Crosby scored his 500th career goal on a power play against the Philadelphia Flyers, becoming the 46th player to reach this milestone in NHL history and the 18th to have scored all goals for a single team. He was the second Penguin, after Lemieux, to achieve this feat.
November 5, 2022: Crosby Records 900th Career Assist
On November 5, 2022, Sidney Crosby recorded his 900th career assist on a Jake Guentzel goal in a 3–2 loss to the Seattle Kraken. He was the sixth-fastest player to reach this milestone in NHL history.
November 4, 2023: Crosby Skated in 1,200th Game
On November 4, 2023, Sidney Crosby skated in his 1,200th NHL game, recording an assist in a 10–2 victory over the San Jose Sharks, marking a significant milestone in his career.
April 1, 2024: Crosby Averaged Point Per Game for 19th Season
On April 1, 2024, following a 5–2 win over the New York Rangers, Sidney Crosby became the second player in NHL history to average a point per game for the 19th consecutive season, joining Wayne Gretzky in achieving this feat.
June 28, 2024: Crosby Selected for Team Canada
On June 28, 2024, Sidney Crosby was selected as one of the first six players to represent Team Canada in the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, marking the first international tournament with full NHL participation since 2016.
September 16, 2024: Crosby Signed Two-Year Extension
On September 16, 2024, Sidney Crosby signed a two-year $17.4 million extension with the Penguins, committing to remain with the team with an average annual value of $8.7 million.
March 28, 2025: Crosby Averaged Point Per Game Over 20 Seasons
On March 28, 2025, Sidney Crosby became the only player in NHL history to average over a point-per-game over 20 seasons, marking a significant career achievement.
2025: 4 Nations Face-Off
In 2025, Crosby captained Canada to a championship win in the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off.
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