Sidney Crosby has done much that will be remembered, not least three Stanley Cups and six international gold medals.

That’s all Crosby cares about. More than perhaps any superstar athlete, he’s untroubled by statistics. They’re a side dish that comes with the steak, but Crosby is pure carnivore. He wants to win.

Missing Canada’s semifinal and final at the Milan Olympics because of a bum knee doubtless put Crosby in a funk.

Losing bothers Crosby, likely more so when his absence factors in. Wondering what might have happened, how he could have influenced.

But Crosby is visibly happy now.

For one reason and one reason only: The Penguins are headed back to the playoffs for the first time since 2022. Big games are Crosby’s playground, and he can’t wait to get back on the monkey bars.

But if Crosby treasures any number, it might be 21.

As in 21 straight NHL seasons averaging a point per game or better.

That’s all of Crosby’s NHL seasons. Every single one.

He’s the only one who’s done that. Wayne Gretzky fell short in his 20th and final NHL campaign.

Crosby clinched a point per game (and then some) for this season with a goal and two assists in the Penguins’ 5-2 home win vs. Florida this past Sunday. (It wouldn’t have felt the same in a loss.)

Crosby is about consistency. Nothing else he’s done better sums up Crosby’s consistency. He’s like a metronome. Tick, tock. Won’t stop. On and on. Wears you down, breaks you down.

Crosby certainly has a generous element of the spectacular.

But he’s more cumulative.

Truly great players in any sport have things that make them unique.

Mario Lemieux was hockey’s best pure offensive force.

Bobby Orr changed how defensemen played.

Gretzky had incomparable vision, touch and anticipation.

Crosby checks lots of boxes.

He’s the best grinder ever. Crosby dislikes that description, but it’s true. Nobody prospers more down low. Ask Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk. The 6-foot-2, 202-pound behemoth bounced off Crosby and went tumbling when attempting to administer a hit in Sunday’s game.

Crosby’s play on the backhand is second to none.

He’s the top deflector of the puck. Crosby’s cross-body redirection on his forehand has a huge degree of difficulty, but he makes it look routine.

Crosby is the best 200-foot player ever.

Crosby is the most fundamentally sound player ever. Nobody colors inside the lines like him.

All those skills can’t help but add up.

Crosby needs 163 more points to pass Jaromir Jagr for No. 2 on the NHL’s all-time list.

Crosby needs 241 more points to reach 2,000.

Crosby needs 1,099 to pass Gretzky for No. 1.

Crosby won’t catch Gretzky. Duh.

But, barring injury, Crosby will zip by Jagr and get to 2,000.

Don’t forget, Crosby lost over 100 games of his prime to concussion problems. He’d otherwise already be close to Jagr.

Crosby is 38. But for him, that’s just another number that doesn’t matter.

Crosby came into the NHL after a season lost to a labor dispute, the league’s most ballyhooed rookie ever. He’s never disappointed, not on or off the ice. Crosby has lived up to every bit of his massive hype.

I consider Lemieux, Orr and Gretzky to be hockey’s three best ever. (That’s my order. But with those three, order is interchangeable.)

I never thought Crosby could climb into that group.

He might yet.

Crosby plays winning hockey.

So did Lemieux, Orr and Gretzky. But Crosby seems the absolute blueprint.

Not much of this column breaks new ground.

But it’s good to remind ourselves how special Crosby is. What we’ve witnessed.

By the way, if Lemieux’s health had allowed an uninterrupted career, he’d have scored 1,000 goals. As long as we’re reminding ourselves of what we’ve witnessed, and what might have been.

Featured Local Businesses

More local businesses