Sid Crosby's impressive Even Strength production since 2022-23

[TheGuiminator]

Since 2022-23, Crosby has the sole possession at 5th in the Even Strength point category, outpointing the likes of Matthews, Panarin, Rantanen, Draisaitl (just to name a few). This season was his second most productive EVP season with 71 EVP, only one point short of his career high in 2009-10 when he scored 72 EVP.

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However, his overall point per game (1,14) is significantly lower than the rest of the pack. Something tells me that his overall production could be way higher than it is right now, with a functionnal powerplay and/or better linemates.

Even though the Art Ross & Hart trophies are clearly out reach at this stage of his career, his impressive EVP numbers (along with the eye test) show that he's probably better than his stats indicate.

With a better supporting cast and competent team management, he probably has another +100 points season left in him.

Your thoughts?

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[Hank Plank]

And did it playing under a brain dead coach. Won't happen but Sid should be on a real team instead of wasting the end of his career in Pittsburgh.

 

[Jauffre]

With a really good powerplay he could probably still pop off for 120 pts. Only 13 assists on the PP all year. His 5 on 5 production shows no signs of decline, truly impressive. Then again it's usually a pretty sharp decline even amongst some of the greats, but I don't think it'll happen to Sid. Guy might just keep doing this til he's damn near 40.

 

[Hockey Outsider]

Not overly surprising. Crosby is one of the greatest even-strength scorers in NHL history.

Fun fact - Crosby is the NHL's leading scorer in even strength points from March 17th, 1995 until today (a span of more than 29 years). Pretty impressive considering he was 7 years old at the start of that period.

Most even-strength PRIMARY points, all-time

Player	Position	Games	ES PRIM	Per game
Wayne Gretzky	C	1,487	1,454	0.98
Gordie Howe	R	1,767	1,052	0.60
Jaromir Jagr	R	1,733	1,015	0.59
Mark Messier	C	1,756	922	0.53
Marcel Dionne	C	1,348	899	0.67
Steve Yzerman	C	1,514	860	0.57
Sidney Crosby	C	1,272	824	0.65
Ron Francis	C	1,731	815	0.47
Alex Ovechkin	L	1,426	814	0.57
Phil Esposito	C	1,282	802	0.63

These numbers are not adjusted for era. A ballpark calculation puts Crosby in 4th place (maybe 5th). These numbers exclude secondary assists, which Crosby has (falsely) been accused of loading up on.

 

[MadLuke]

Could also be named Penguins-Crosby unimpressive powerplay, Karlsson-Malkin-Crosby having a bottom 3 PP..... this year, clearly the reason they missed the playoff.

And he did it with a low on-ice s%, they were really solid season a EV

 

[Despote]

Crosby's skillset never translated to powerplay quite as well as 5vs5. There's a reason he's called the best grinder of all time.

 

[solidmotion]

Crosby's skillset never translated to powerplay quite as well as 5vs5. There's a reason he's called the best grinder of all time.

not really tho. he has usually been a top-10 power play producer over his career, often top-5, sometimes #1. only really fell off the last couple years.

 

[Despote]

not really tho. he has usually been a top-10 power play producer over his career, often top-5, sometimes #1. only really fell off the last couple years.

Crosby was quite clearly the best 5vs5 player of his generation, but didn't stand out from other elite players in the PP.

 

[SEALBound]

One part of Sid's overall career that often goes underappreciated is his adaptability. The way he is able to change his game up and still perform at an elite level is truly remarkable. This is a guy that could be an effective NHL player well into his 40s...if he wants.

 

[RooBicks]

Watching him in game, he often still looks like a top-5 player in the league. The game bends around him. It's amazing, and he's being remarkably overlooked in the last third of his career. I agree with the poster above: I hope he can get to another team while he's still got a few good years left to flex a bit on his way out, because he does not look like a past his prime player out there at all right now.

 

[pi314]

The power play suckage makes me sad.

It’s just coaching.

Pointless stupid drop passes on zone entries.

Nobody in front of the net.

Standing around the perimeter looking like an NBA team trying to make a three pointer.

Nobody moving their feet.

I couldn’t design up something worse.

All of that is scheme and coaching.

Sid hasn’t lost his PP juice yet.

And yes I just said PP juice.

 

[Dingo]

Not overly surprising. Crosby is one of the greatest even-strength scorers in NHL history.

Fun fact - Crosby is the NHL's leading scorer in even strength points from March 17th, 1995 until today (a span of more than 29 years). Pretty impressive considering he was 7 years old at the start of that period.

Most even-strength PRIMARY points, all-time

Player	Position	Games	ES PRIM	Per game
Wayne Gretzky	C	1,487	1,454	0.98
Gordie Howe	R	1,767	1,052	0.60
Jaromir Jagr	R	1,733	1,015	0.59
Mark Messier	C	1,756	922	0.53
Marcel Dionne	C	1,348	899	0.67
Steve Yzerman	C	1,514	860	0.57
Sidney Crosby	C	1,272	824	0.65
Ron Francis	C	1,731	815	0.47
Alex Ovechkin	L	1,426	814	0.57
Phil Esposito	C	1,282	802	0.63

These numbers are not adjusted for era. A ballpark calculation puts Crosby in 4th place (maybe 5th). These numbers exclude secondary assists, which Crosby has (falsely) been accused of loading up on.

uhhhh, any chance you could post the per games for anyone over..... like 500 games played? gotta see how my oft-injured heroes stack up.

oh damn, also, if you really wanna be the coolest, maybe limit it to games played under maybe 36 years old so old Jags and guys like him dont get shitkicked by Time?

is this possible?

 

[Offtheboard412]

Watching him in game, he often still looks like a top-5 player in the league. The game bends around him. It's amazing, and he's being remarkably overlooked in the last third of his career. I agree with the poster above: I hope he can get to another team while he's still got a few good years left to flex a bit on his way out, because he does not look like a past his prime player out there at all right now.

Yeah the only big difference I see in his game compared to his prime is his acceleration and explosiveness. He rarely carries the puck through the neutral zone anymore, he seems content to let his wingers do most of the transition work. Though that may also just be Sullivan's preference, as his system uses the wings to carry the puck through the neutral zone more than the centers.

 

[PensandCaps]

Crosby's skillset never translated to powerplay quite as well as 5vs5. There's a reason he's called the best grinder of all time.

Wouldn't say never. Definitely since the past few years where he's lost his burst and ranged shooting. But he was an elite setup man on the PP for the first 14 years.

They also kind of use him wrong. He's the best deflector in the game, and really haven't used him down low throughout his career.

 

[authentic]

Not overly surprising. Crosby is one of the greatest even-strength scorers in NHL history.

Fun fact - Crosby is the NHL's leading scorer in even strength points from March 17th, 1995 until today (a span of more than 29 years). Pretty impressive considering he was 7 years old at the start of that period.

Most even-strength PRIMARY points, all-time

Player	Position	Games	ES PRIM	Per game
Wayne Gretzky	C	1,487	1,454	0.98
Gordie Howe	R	1,767	1,052	0.60
Jaromir Jagr	R	1,733	1,015	0.59
Mark Messier	C	1,756	922	0.53
Marcel Dionne	C	1,348	899	0.67
Steve Yzerman	C	1,514	860	0.57
Sidney Crosby	C	1,272	824	0.65
Ron Francis	C	1,731	815	0.47
Alex Ovechkin	L	1,426	814	0.57
Phil Esposito	C	1,282	802	0.63

These numbers are not adjusted for era. A ballpark calculation puts Crosby in 4th place (maybe 5th). These numbers exclude secondary assists, which Crosby has (falsely) been accused of loading up on.

Playing roughly half his prime in a dead puck era that's extremely impressive. Also dominates in ESP since his career began.

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

Crosby - 1272gp 1025p
Ovechkin - 1426gp 963p
Kane - 1230gp 866p
Malkin - 1145gp 799p
Kopitar - 1373gp 761p
Stamkos - 1082gp 707p
Staal - 1284gp 694p
Thornton - 1205gp 688p
Tavares - 1109gp 684p
Pavelski - 1332gp 667p

 

[authentic]

Wouldn't say never. Definitely since the past few years where he's lost his burst and ranged shooting. But he was an elite setup man on the PP for the first 14 years.

They also kind of use him wrong. He's the best deflector in the game, and really haven't used him down low throughout his career.

Yeah in Crosby's 120 point season he had 61PP points, he was absolutely an elite PP player early on in his career.

 

[Marshmallow Man]

Insane that he's top 10 all-time in NHL scoring. I had no idea he was up that far already.

Realistically, he's almost a lock at finishing his career in the top 5 all-time if he plays 3 more seasons as he's 202 points behind Ron Francis.

Unlike previous megastars, both Ovechkin and Crosby have had insane consistency. Ovechkin really only had 1 truly great scoring season. Same with Crosby. But Ovie puts up 40-50 like its nothing and Crosby scores at a PPG.

Both guys kind of sneak up on these records because of how consistently good they are. Usually, guys put up insane monster numbers early in their career and tail off badly towards the end. Though I wonder how much that was due to stars of the 80s being hit with dead-puck hockey late in their careers.

 

[Three On Zero]

Best player in the league since Lemieux, simple as that

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDo]

…

However, his overall point per game (1,14) is significantly lower than the rest of the pack. Something tells me that his overall production could be way higher than it is right now, with a functionnal powerplay and/or better linemates.

…

Your thoughts?

It was powerplay not linemates. Guentzel is doing well in CAR and while Rakell had a bit of a down year and Drew O’Connor is probably a third liner, Bryan Rust is a good top6 wing.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

12th in points and 11th in goals this season. Crosby still has got it and any cup contender would love to have him as their second C at this point

 

[PaulD]

12th in points and 11th in goals this season. Crosby still has got it and any cup contender would love to have him as their second C at this point

Bruins , Aves, Knights

 

[edog37]

Crosby's skillset never translated to powerplay quite as well as 5vs5. There's a reason he's called the best grinder of all time.

That is fundamentally false. They don’t place him on the half wall as they should since placating Geno is more important.

Best player in the league since Lemieux, simple as that

And 4th GOAT

 

[Dingo]

Insane that he's top 10 all-time in NHL scoring. I had no idea he was up that far already.

Realistically, he's almost a lock at finishing his career in the top 5 all-time if he plays 3 more seasons as he's 202 points behind Ron Francis.

Unlike previous megastars, both Ovechkin and Crosby have had insane consistency. Ovechkin really only had 1 truly great scoring season. Same with Crosby. But Ovie puts up 40-50 like its nothing and Crosby scores at a PPG.

Both guys kind of sneak up on these records because of how consistently good they are. Usually, guys put up insane monster numbers early in their career and tail off badly towards the end. Though I wonder how much that was due to stars of the 80s being hit with dead-puck hockey late in their careers.

part of it is that the league opened up and goalie pads were reduced right about the time that each were exiting their prime. It gives the impression that they have stayed the same. They havent. Ovechkin's 65 goal, 110 point season is a monster season. Crosby had his best seasons then, too, but his very best were likely lost to injury.

 

[eXile3]

Crosby was quite clearly the best 5vs5 player of his generation, but didn't stand out from other elite players in the PP.

He’s 2nd to only OV in power play points since he entered the league. This is pretty clearly false.

 

[Despote]

He’s 2nd to only OV in power play points since he entered the league. This is pretty clearly false.

Well yeah he's also pretty much the only player with OV that has played in the league for that entire timeframe. Crosby is an elite powerplay player, but in contrast to having the two best 5vs5 offensive players of an era in the same powerplay, the Pens powerplay was always a little underwhelming compared to that. WSH had the era-best powerplay through OV's prime and Crosby was generally top-10ish in powerplay points/60.