How Sidney Crosby Shaped the Future: A Legacy Timeline
A detailed timeline of the impact and legacy of Sidney Crosby across different fields.
Sidney Crosby is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Drafted first overall in 2005, he was highly touted and nicknamed "Sid the Kid." He's widely regarded as one of the greatest hockey players ever.
September 2016: Wayne Gretzky Praises Crosby
In September 2016, Wayne Gretzky stated that Sidney Crosby had proven he is the best player in the game and has the biggest impact in the most important games.
October 2016: Mario Lemieux Praises Crosby's Complete Game
In October 2016, Mario Lemieux praised Sidney Crosby as a more complete player, noting his defensive improvements.
June 2017: Crosby Voted Greatest Canadian Athlete of the 21st Century
In June 2017, Sidney Crosby was voted by Canadians as the greatest athlete of the 21st century in a survey conducted by Sportsnet.
2017: Second Stanley Cup and Recognition
In 2017, Sidney Crosby led Pittsburgh to another Stanley Cup championship, won his second Richard Trophy, and was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history, solidifying his legacy.
March 2018: Crosby Voted "Most Difficult to Play Against" by NHLPA
In a March 2018 poll conducted by the NHLPA, Sidney Crosby was voted "most difficult to play against, best role model, best team player, the player you'd want to win one game, and the player who would be a great coach upon retirement" by his peers.
April 2018: Crosby Chosen as Nova Scotia's "Best Athlete Ever"
In April 2018, Sidney Crosby was chosen as Nova Scotia's "Best athlete ever" by the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame.
April 2018: Crosby's Work Ethic Highlighted
In an April 2018 article for The Washington Post, Sidney Crosby's work ethic and strive for greatness was highlighted by players, coaches, and teammates as a major factor in his lasting success.
March 2019: Sullivan Calls Crosby the Heartbeat of the Penguins
In March 2019, Pittsburgh head coach Mike Sullivan described Sidney Crosby as the "best 200-foot player in the game" and the "heartbeat" of the Penguins.
March 2019: Crosby Regarded as Best All-Around 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.
September 2019: Jersey Retirement
In September 2019, the Rimouski Océanic retired jersey number 87 in Crosby's honor, and the QMJHL also retired the number for all of its teams.
2019: Jersey Retired
In 2019, Sidney Crosby's jersey number 87 was retired by the Rimouski Océanic and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), honoring his contributions to the sport.
2022: Crosby Called Dominant Winter Olympian
Four months before the 2022 Winter Olympics, Rob Rossi of The Athletic called Sidney Crosby "arguably North America's most dominant team-sport Winter Olympian."
2025: Sidney Crosby Trophy
In 2025, the QMJHL began presenting their Rookie of the Year award as the "Sidney Crosby Trophy", solidifying his legacy in junior hockey.
