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, serves as the centre and captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL. He was drafted first overall by the Penguins in 2005. Known as "Sid the Kid" and dubbed "The Next One", he is considered one of the greatest ice hockey players of all time.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

1974: Third Player Since 1974

Since 1974, Sidney Crosby was the third player to achieve this record.

1975: Third Player Since 1975

Since 1975, Sidney Crosby was the third player to achieve this record.

1980: Youngest NHL Scorer since Gretzky

In the 1980 NHL season, prior to Crosby, Wayne Gretzky was the youngest player to lead the NHL in scoring.

1991: Third Player Since 1991

Since 1991, Sidney Crosby was the third player to achieve this record.

1992: Third Player Since 1992

Since 1992, Sidney Crosby was the third player to achieve this record.

1997: First Repeat Since 1997

In 1997, Sidney Crosby became the first team to repeat since 1997.

2005: World Junior Championships Gold

In 2005, Sidney Crosby won gold at the World Junior Championships, marking a significant achievement in his international career.

2005: Memorial Cup Tournament All-Star Team

In 2005, despite the Océanic's loss in the Memorial Cup final, Crosby was named to the Tournament All-Star team and captured the Ed Chynoweth Trophy as the competition's leading scorer.

2005: Crosby's Drafting Transforms Pittsburgh Penguins

In 2005, drafting Sidney Crosby significantly altered the fortunes of the Pittsburgh Penguins, a struggling franchise. It secured funding for a new arena and prevented the team's potential relocation. Crosby's arrival also improved the team's attendance by 33% in the 2005-06 season and revitalized hockey in Pittsburgh.

2005: First Repeat Since 2005-06

Since 2005-06, Sidney Crosby was the first to do so in the salary cap era.

January 2007: Mark Messier Leadership Award

In January 2007, Sidney Crosby received the Mark Messier Leadership Award, recognized as a "superior leader within the sport, setting a positive example through on-ice performance, motivation of team members and a dedication to the community".

May 31, 2007: Named Team Captain

On May 31, 2007, Sidney Crosby was named the captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins, becoming 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.

March 27, 2008: Return from Injury

On March 27, 2008, Sidney Crosby returned to the Penguins' lineup to help the team defeat the New York Islanders 3–1, following his recovery from an ankle injury.

October 18, 2008: Surpasses Career Benchmarks

On October 18, 2008, Sidney Crosby recorded one goal and three assists against the Toronto Maple Leafs, surpassing career benchmarks of 100 goals, 200 assists, and 300 points.

2008: Stanley Cup Finals Appearance

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 Win

In 2009, Sidney Crosby and the Penguins won the Stanley Cup, marking Crosby's first Stanley Cup title. Crosby, at 21 years, 10 months, and 5 days, became the youngest NHL captain to win the Stanley Cup since 1895.

2009: Mark Messier Leadership Award

In 2009–10, Sidney Crosby received the Mark Messier Leadership Award and scored 51 goals.

November 5, 2010: Point Streak Begins

On November 5, 2010, Sidney Crosby began a 25-game point streak against the Anaheim Ducks, which ultimately tied for the 11th-longest point streak in NHL history.

December 28, 2010: Point Streak Ends

On December 28, 2010, Sidney Crosby's 25-game point streak ended against the New York Islanders. During the streak he scored 27 goals and 24 assists for 51 points.

2010: Crosby at the 2010 Winter Olympics

During the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Sidney Crosby played as captain and first-line centre for Canada. The coaching staff struggled to find linemates who could keep up with Crosby's pace. Assistant coach Ken Hitchcock noted Crosby's exceptional anticipation and ability to create scoring chances.

2010: Finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy

In 2009-10, Crosby was the runner-up for the Art Ross Trophy and a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy.

2010: Winter Olympics Gold

In 2010, Sidney Crosby played for Team Canada at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver and scored the game-winning goal in overtime against the United States in the gold medal game.

January 3, 2011: All-Star Selection

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

November 21, 2011: Return from Injury

On November 21, 2011, Sidney Crosby returned from missing 20 games due to concussion-like symptoms, scoring two goals and two assists in a 5–0 shutout against the New York Islanders.

March 15, 2012: Return to Action

On March 15, 2012, Sidney Crosby returned to action after concussion-like symptoms resurfaced in December, recording two assists in a 5–2 win against the New York Rangers.

2012: Crosby's Youngest Goal Scorer Record Broken

In 2012, Aleksander Barkov of Finland broke Sidney Crosby's record for the youngest player to score a goal in the World Junior Championships, with Barkov scoring at 16 years and 4 months.

2013: 100 Points Since 2013-14

In 2013, Sidney Crosby reached the 100-point mark since scoring 104 points in 2013-14.

2013: 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

During the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Sidney Crosby again played as captain and first-line centre for Canada. Similar to the 2010 Olympics, the coaching staff faced challenges in finding linemates capable of matching Crosby's skill and speed.

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 and Art Ross Trophies

In 2014, Sidney Crosby won the Hart Memorial Trophy and his second career Art Ross Trophy with 104 points.

April 1, 2015: 300th NHL Goal

On April 1, 2015, Sidney Crosby scored his 300th career NHL goal against Steve Mason of the Philadelphia Flyers.

July 2015: Jonathan Quick praises Crosby's backhand shot

In July 2015, Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings praised Sidney Crosby's backhand shot in his column for The Players' Tribune, calling it the best in the NHL. Quick highlighted the flatness of Crosby's blade and his forearm strength, which allows him to quickly switch between forehand and backhand shots.

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". He also received recognition for his participation in the "Merci Sidney" video, which celebrated his return to Rimouski for his QMJHL jersey retirement ceremony.

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 a Stanley Cup championship, further solidifying his legacy in the NHL.

2016: Missed Games and MVP Season

In 2016, Sidney Crosby missed the first six games due to a concussion, but returned to score 30 goals in 45 games. He was named team MVP and tied for second in NHL scoring with 89 points.

2016: Crosby's Season Turnaround and Playoff Success

In 2016, Sidney Crosby turned his season around under coach Mike Sullivan, leading the NHL in scoring after December 12. He recorded his 600th NHL assist on April 2 and later secured home-ice advantage for the playoffs on April 8. He ultimately led the Penguins to win the Stanley Cup, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy.

January 27, 2017: Crosby Named One of 100 Greatest NHL Players

On January 27, 2017, Sidney Crosby was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history during a ceremony at the All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, solidifying his status as one of the league's all-time greats.

February 16, 2017: Crosby reaches 1,000 NHL Points

On February 16, 2017, Sidney Crosby recorded an assist against the Winnipeg Jets, reaching 1,000 NHL points in his 757th game, making him the 12th-fastest player to reach this milestone.

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, reflecting his immense popularity and impact in Canada.

2017: Stanley Cup Championship and Conn Smythe Trophy

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 Top 100 NHL Player

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 the St. Louis Blues, becoming the 95th player in NHL history to reach this milestone.

March 2018: Crosby Voted 'Most Difficult to Play Against' by NHLPA

In March 2018, a poll conducted by the NHLPA of over 500 players voted Sidney Crosby as 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", acknowledging his exceptional skill and leadership.

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 province and his overall athletic achievements.

December 31, 2018: 900th NHL Game

On December 31, 2018, Sidney Crosby played his 900th NHL game, becoming the second player in Penguins history to reach this milestone.

January 3, 2019: All-Star Game MVP

On January 3, 2019, Sidney Crosby was selected for the NHL All-Star Game, where he scored four goals and four assists, winning the All-Star MVP award.

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, highlighting his comprehensive skill set and impact on the game.

September 2019: Jersey Retired

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 Océanic and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League retired Crosby's jersey number 87.

January 2020: NHL All-Decade First Team Selection

In January 2020, Sidney Crosby was selected to the NHL All-Decade First Team.

2020: Shortened 2020-21 Season

In the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season, Sidney Crosby led the team in scoring with 62 points and received the team's MVP and Players' Player Awards.

February 20, 2021: 1,000 Games with Penguins

On February 20, 2021, Sidney Crosby became the first player in Penguins history to play 1,000 games with the franchise.

2021: Ted Lindsay Award Finalist

In 2021, Sidney Crosby was a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award.

February 15, 2022: Crosby Scores 500th Career Goal

On February 15, 2022, Sidney Crosby scored his 500th career goal during a power play against the Philadelphia Flyers. He became the 46th player in NHL history to reach this milestone and the 18th to score all 500 goals for a single team. Crosby was also the second Penguin, after Mario Lemieux, to score 500 goals.

November 5, 2022: Crosby Records 900th Career Assist

On November 5, 2022, Sidney Crosby recorded his 900th career assist on a goal by Jake Guentzel during a 3–2 loss to the Seattle Kraken. He was the sixth-fastest player in NHL history to reach this milestone.

November 4, 2023: Crosby Skates in 1,200th Game

On November 4, 2023, Sidney Crosby played in his 1,200th NHL game, recording an assist during a 10–2 victory over the San Jose Sharks. He expressed his love for the game during both good and tough times.

April 1, 2024: Crosby Averages Point Per Game for 19th Consecutive Season

On April 1, 2024, following a 5–2 win over the New York Rangers, Sidney Crosby became the second player in NHL history, after Wayne Gretzky, to average a point per game for 19 consecutive seasons.

March 28, 2025: Crosby Sets Record for Point-Per-Game Average

On March 28, 2025, Sidney Crosby became the only player in NHL history to average over a point-per-game for 20 seasons.

December 22, 2025: Crosby Becomes Penguins All-Time Points Leader

On December 22, 2025, Sidney Crosby became the Pittsburgh Penguins' all-time points leader with 1,724 points, also passing Mario Lemieux for 8th all-time in NHL scoring.

2025: Inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off Championship

In 2025, Sidney 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”.

April 4, 2026: Crosby Climbs to 7th on All-Time Scoring List

On April 4, 2026, Sidney Crosby climbed to 7th on the NHL's all-time scoring list after a two-point game against the Florida Panthers, passing Steve Yzerman.

2026: Crosby Named Captain for 2026 Winter Olympics

In 2026, Sidney Crosby was named captain of the Canadian Olympic team, marking his third Olympic appearance. Crosby scored three points in a 10-2 victory over France on February 15, surpassing Jarome Iginla as Canada's all-time leading scorer in the Olympics. He sustained a lower-body injury during the quarterfinal game against Czechia on February 18. Canada won the silver medal, with Crosby's leadership impacting the team despite his injury.