Sidney Crosby enters 22nd Penguins season with elite drive intact

Sidney Crosby is about to start his 22nd NHL season, and his daily approach still resembles that of a young player trying to earn a job. With the Pittsburgh Penguins set to open on the road in Philadelphia, the longtime captain continues to drive through intense practices, showing little sign of slowing down as he nears 40.

In a recent session, Crosby planted himself in front of the net to tip point shots, chased down plays when passes misfired and vented his frustration on the boards after mistakes. When most teammates headed off, he stayed on the ice for more than 20 extra minutes with Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, working through details with the same precision that has defined their two‑decade partnership. Head coach Dan Muse, who arrived in 2025, has acknowledged that the trio’s extended work habits still stand out in a league full of professionals.

Production and passion still driving the Penguins’ captain

Crosby is the only player in league history to average at least a point per game in 21 consecutive seasons, and he enters the year with 1,761 career points. That total leaves him 38 shy of Ron Francis and fifth place on the all‑time scoring list. He has brushed off the idea that milestones are his main motivation, noting that personal numbers are not what keeps him coming back.

Rather than resting after last spring’s first‑round loss to the Flyers, Crosby extended a busy schedule. He reported to the Penguins’ facility weeks before training camp and then served as an alternate captain for Team Canada at the 2026 World Championship, supporting 19‑year‑old standout Macklin Celebrini. That appearance came only months after an injury cut short his bid for a second Olympic gold at the Cortina Winter Games.

First time starting a season in a contract year

For the first time in his career, Crosby is beginning a season without term beyond it. He has emphasized that any decision about his future will come down to how he feels physically and where his game stands, saying earlier this month that, overall, he feels good. General manager Kyle Dubas confirmed that talks with agent Pat Brisson are ongoing, but stressed there is no hard deadline to finalize a new deal.

Even as contemporaries like Alex Ovechkin and Malkin near the end of their careers, Crosby has not framed this season as a farewell tour or a chase for round numbers such as 2,000 points. His focus remains on trying to push Pittsburgh back toward the standard it set with back‑to‑back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017. The Penguins have not advanced past the first round since 2018, though last season’s second‑place finish in the Metropolitan Division suggested some progress.

For Crosby, the coming months will bring the same rhythm he has known for years: practices, morning skates, road trips and 84 regular‑season games that offer another chance to compete. As long as he still feels the mix of nerves and excitement before opening night, all indications are that he intends to keep going at full speed.