Any Chance Crosby Reaches 2000 Points?

[DitchMarner]

I wouldn't bet on it, but it doesn't seem utterly impossible. He needs 401 more points. That's an average of 80 points per season (plus one point). He's 37 and can still produce at above a PPG clip. He works hard to stay in shape and loves hockey.

If he can score over 90 points this season and next season and then 80 three seasons from now, he'll only need to average about 70 in his last two seasons to reach 2000 career points (assuming he plays that long).


Like with Ovechkin and 895/900 career goals, I think reaching 2000 points would be a meaningful accomplishment, but it wouldn't help his all-time ranking that much. Would that be enough to propel him ahead of Lemieux or Orr? I'm sure many wouldn't think so. Some might.

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[BenchBrawl]

He has a shot if he wants to play for that long.

Too bad Pittsburgh is in no position to contend within the next five years.

 

[Crosby2010]

The Pens missed the playoffs on the last game of the season the last two years. They are a playoff team I think. The way Crosby, Malkin and Letang have played so far this year is impressive. Malkin to me is the key this year, he certainly would be the one that could move the needle as we all know how Crosby will fare. But they are old. Karlsson is old too. There is not much in the cupboard for them. They really need to rely on the old quartet that they have. They are miles from being a contender, three Cups will do that to you eventually, but what I'd like to see him do is make the playoffs. He is tied for 5th with Jagr at 201. The 4 ahead of him are dynasty Oilers. If he had sole possession of 5th, he could have a chance to catch Anderson at 214. That is more likely than 2000. I think after two years he is 5th or 6th all-time in points. He needs two huge years to pass Francis for 5th in the next two years but if he plays three more years he passes Francis. That would leave Gretzky, Jagr, Messier and Howe ahead of him. And that sounds just about right as far as I am concerned.

 

[Dale53130]

I wouldn't bet on it, but it doesn't seem utterly impossible. He needs 401 more points. That's an average of 80 points per season (plus one point). He's 37 and can still produce at above a PPG clip. He works hard to stay in shape and loves hockey.

If he can score over 90 points this season and next season and then 80 three seasons from now, he'll only need to average about 70 in his last two seasons to reach 2000 career points (assuming he plays that long).


Like with Ovechkin and 895/900 career goals, I think reaching 2000 points would be a meaningful accomplishment, but it wouldn't help his all-time ranking that much. Would that be enough to propel him ahead of Lemieux or Orr? I'm sure many wouldn't think so. Some might.

I've been thinking about this since 2019 (or so).

I think he can.

I don't see him as the type to have his sights set on that specific goal though, or motivated to make it harder for McDavid to catch him in that regard. McDavid's ahead of his pace, but he still has to be really good well into his 30s to do so. McDavid's "only" +600 points behind while he's 10 years younger, but Crosby is still racking up 80-90 point seasons.

 

[JackSlater]

Future of hockey board?

 

[MadLuke]

Ovechkin created some never say never, but that a whole lot of points for someone with very little left to prove (Thornton and many that hanged around long did not win a cup, money-life problem, etc...)

One way to put it, after his 36 years old season,

Yzerman..: 93
Sakic....: 152
Thornton : 198
Beliveau.: 207 (in only 202 games)
Francis..: 239
Oates....: 294
jagr.....: 322
Messier..: 335
Howe.....: 489

Would 400 pts it be the most ever after Howe ? And by a good amount, if someone can do it, could be him with scoring staying high, but still this would be a lot. Jagr without the KHL probably could have, but he had a freak of nature 6 foot 3 frame and played until he was 45.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Ovechkin created some never say never, but that a whole lot of points for someone with very little left to prove (Thornton and many they hanged around long did not win a cup, money-life problem, etc...)

One way to put it, after his 36 years old season,

Yzerman..: 93
Sakic....: 152
Thornton : 198
Beliveau.: 207 (in only 202 games)
Francis..: 239
Oates....: 294
jagr.....: 322
Messier..: 335
Howe.....: 489

Would 400 pts it be the most ever after Howe ? And by a good amount, if someone can do it, could be him with scoring staying high, but still this would be a lot. Jagr without the KHL probably could have, but he had a freak of nature 6 foot 3 frame and played until he was 45.

Got me curious for Alfredsson as he went til 41, he was 285 points after turning 36.

Not sure he gets there, not sure if will play long enough.

 

[jigglysquishy]

There's a chance, I just don't think it's a good one. He's going to hit 1800 points but I'm not confident on anything after that. He'll be 39 when he hits 1800. I know he's a fitness freak but he just won't be elite productive more after that. There's only what, 20 PPG seasons after age 36 as is? And what, just like 3 80 point seasons after age 38? Outside Howe it's just not something we've seen even from guys like Sakic or Jagr or Gretzky or Lemieux or Yzerman.

Maybe he plays until 43 and gets there. But I do think he's done after this last contract he signed.

 

[Michael Farkas]

Nah...I don't think he's going to try to hang on for that long. I think these are probably the last three seasons...

 

[wetcoast]

Nah...I don't think he's going to try to hang on for that long. I think these are probably the last three seasons...

Ya I can't wait for MJ to say well Crosby couldn't play as long.....blah blah blah......

 

[Hockey Outsider]

I'm posting this as statistical trivia (since I don't think career totals are overly informative). But Crosby has the potential to reach a few significant records, even though he'll probably fall short of 2,000 points:

Most assists for a single franchise

1	Ray Bourque	1,111	Bruins
2	Wayne Gretzky	1,086	Oilers
3	Steve Yzerman	1,063	Red Wings
4	Mario Lemieux	1,033	Penguins
5	Gordie Howe	1,023	Red Wings
6	Joe Sakic	1,016	Avalanche
7	Sidney Crosby	1,007	Penguins
8	Stan Mikita	926	Blackhawks
9	Nicklas Lidstrom	878	Red Wings
10	Bryan Trottier	853	Islanders

Most points for a single franchise

1	Gordie Howe	1,809	Red Wings
2	Steve Yzerman	1,755	Red Wings
3	Mario Lemieux	1,723	Penguins
4	Wayne Gretzky	1,669	Oilers
5	Joe Sakic	1,641	Avalanche
6	Sidney Crosby	1,599	Penguins
7	Alex Ovechkin	1,551	Capitals
8	Ray Bourque	1,506	Bruins
9	Stan Mikita	1,467	Blackhawks
10	Mike Modano	1,374	Stars

With 105 assists and 211 points, Crosby would set the all-time record for most assists and points for a single franchise. He probably needs three (relatively) healthy seasons to take both records. (I'll add the obligatory "McDavid could surpass this ten years from now").

(Note - Crosby also ranks 7th in most goals for a franchise. The four players at the top - Ovechkin, Howe, Yzerman, and Lemieux - each scored 690+ times. But Crosby has a good chance of taking 5th place from Sakic, who had 625 for the Avalanche).

Who knows if the Penguins will qualify for the playoffs in the near future. Crosby won't surpass Gretzky, but he would finish 2nd all-time in assists and points for a single franchise with another 6 assists and 15 points.

 

[The Panther]

I doubt it. I don't see Crosby as the type to stay on longer than his abilities permit, and I think once he starts to notably decline, he will step off.

Future of hockey board?

It's becoming the 'Ovechkin / Crosby with some History of Hockey board"...

 

[WarriorofTime]

Athletes are playing longer these days (Brady, LeBron..) It's possible if he stayed healthy and wanted to keep going.