Sidney Crosby has added yet another NHL record to his résumé even before beginning his 22nd season with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Crosby will enter Wednesday’s opener against the Philadelphia Flyers as the longest-tenured captain in NHL history, beginning his 20th season wearing the “C.”
The Penguins PR account on X announced the record mere hours before Pittsburgh’s season-opening game, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
“Two decades with the ‘C’ on his chest,” the Penguins said. “Sidney Crosby is the longest-tenured captain in NHL history.”
The 39-year-old center was first named Pittsburgh’s captain in May 2007 and has held the role ever since.
Former Detroit Red Wings center Steve Yzerman held the record until this season, after captaining the Red Wings from 1986-87 through 2005-06, excluding the 2004-05 lockout season. Current Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin owns the second-longest active captaincy, beginning in 2009-10.
Wednesday will mark the start of Crosby’s 22nd season with Pittsburgh, moving him past Willie Stargell’s 21 seasons with the Pirates for the most by an athlete with a Pittsburgh team across the NHL, NFL and MLB, per The Athletic’s Josh Yohe.
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports via Imagn Images
The milestone also arrives with Crosby showing little desire to slow down. The Penguins captain revealed in early September that extension talks are underway between his agent, Pat Brisson, and Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas.
“I’d like to continue playing for a number of years,” Crosby said. “I just don’t know what that number is. And I guess your mind and body tell you that eventually. And right now, I feel pretty good, though.”
Crosby begins the season with 654 goals and 1,107 assists for 1,761 points in 1,420 regular-season games, with a year left in his current two-year, $17.4 million deal.
