Apr 25, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) against the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Apr 25, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) against the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Sidney Crosby has made his decision, claiming his NHL career is not nearing its end after the Pittsburgh Penguins' elimination from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Penguins captain is approaching 40, and extending his playing career would only enhance his lasting NHL legacy.
He has 1,761 points and 1,107 assists in 1,420 regular-season games, which puts him 7th on the all-time points list as reported by The Hockey News. The veteran is now close to passing Marcel Dionne (1,771 points) and Ron Francis (1,798 points).
If he keeps pushing his limits, he could also move ahead of legends like Gordie Howe, third-place holder Mark Messier (1,887), and Jaromír Jagr (1,921 points).
However, Wayne Gretzky’s record, that is 2,857 points, is still far away. Overtaking the remaining players is still possible, and if Crosby continues producing 50 or more points annually for another four to five seasons, he may rise to No. 2 on the all-time scoring chart.
Apr 29, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) controls the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers in the second period in game six of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Apr 29, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) controls the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers in the second period in game six of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Last December, Crosby passed Mario Lemieux as the top scorer in Pittsburgh Penguins history by posting a goal and an assist in a 4-3 shootout win against the Montreal Canadiens at PPG Paints Arena.
Even as he gets older, his production has remained stable. In his latest season, he scored 74 points in 68 games, including 45 assists, even though his average ice time dropped from 20:22 to 19:14 per game.
He does not depend on playing more minutes. Rather, he uses perfect timing, awareness, and smart decisions to stay effective.
Sidney Crosby's Impact at 38
Crosby is still making a big impact even at this age. A clear example was his game against Denmark at the 2026 IIHF World Championship, where he recorded 4 assists. Canada won that match 5-1, and Crosby played a big role in the win.
So far in the tournament, he has 6 points. In that way, Crosby’s presence is important for the Penguins' rebuilding. He is the captain and sets the example for hard work, discipline, and consistency.
When asked about the contract, Crosby said he prefers year-to-year contracts. He said his decisions are based on what benefits the team most, not his personal desire or career length plans.
"It’s pretty obvious why I would just go year-to-year with the contracts," he said. "At the end of the day, I’m just going to do what’s best for the team. It’s got nothing to do with how long I want to play. It’s not like that at all."
While Crosby continues playing the sport, share your thoughts on how the upcoming years are going to shape his legacy.
Read more at the NHL Fan Central.
Written by
Kapil Manghnani
Edited by
Soheli Tarafdar