Sidney Crosby's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A closer look at the biggest achievements of Sidney Crosby. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.

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.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

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).

1980: Teenage Scoring Leader

In 1980, Wayne Gretzky was the first teenager to lead the NHL in scoring.

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).

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).

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.

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.

2005: Memorial Cup Final

In 2005, Sidney Crosby led his club, the Rimouski Océanic, to the Memorial Cup final.

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.

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.

June 2007: Awards Show Hat-Trick

In June 2007, at the NHL's annual awards show, Crosby won the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Lester B. Pearson Award, in addition to his previously clinched Art Ross Trophy, completing a rare off-season "hat-trick".

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.

March 27, 2008: Return from Injury

On March 27, 2008, Crosby returned from an ankle injury to help the Penguins defeat the New York Islanders 3-1.

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: 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.

January 3, 2011: Selected for 2011 All-Star Game

On January 3, 2011, Sidney Crosby was selected as a 2011 All-Star, along with teammates Evgeni Malkin, Marc-André Fleury and Kris Letang.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

September 2016: Crosby Wins Emmy Award

In September 2016, Sidney Crosby won an Emmy Award for his role in "There's No Place Like Home With Sidney Crosby" and for his participation in the "Merci Sidney" video, which commemorated his return to Rimouski for his QMJHL jersey retirement ceremony.

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2016: World Cup of Hockey Gold

In 2016, Sidney Crosby captained Canada to gold in the World Cup of Hockey and was elected MVP by a unanimous vote.

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.

June 2017: Canadians Vote Crosby Greatest 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: 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.

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.

March 2018: NHL Players Vote Crosby as a Top Player

In March 2018, a poll conducted by the NHLPA of more than 500 players resulted in Sidney Crosby being voted the "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".

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, recognizing his significant contributions to the sport and the region.

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: 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.

September 2019: Jersey Retirement

In September 2019, the Rimouski Océanic retired jersey number 87 in Sidney Crosby's honor, and the QMJHL also retired the number for all of its teams.

2019: Jersey Retired

In 2019, the Rimouski Océanic and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League retired Sidney Crosby's jersey number 87, marking a tribute to his major junior career.

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.

2022: Crosby dubbed North America's most dominant team-sport 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." highlighting his performances in previous Olympic games.

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.

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.

2025: Sidney Crosby Trophy

In 2025, the QMJHL began presenting their Rookie of the Year award as the “Sidney Crosby Trophy,” establishing a lasting legacy for Crosby in the league.