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What years were Crosby's prime?

His ultimate prime was taken away from him with those injury seasons. He had been to 2 cup finals already and had several 100 point seasons. It's amazing he and his team won 2 more cups and he had more 100 point seasons. He is a very different player since 2017 season. Whilst not an Yzerman like transformation, Crosby really became a complete 200 foot player and the smartest most skilled grinder of all time. I think people forget how quick and offensively talented he was in the early years. Back to back and the Olympic golden goal.
 
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I think people exaggerate when they say he's still in his prime, but his prime was very long and consistent and he's not that far below his prime level (but I think he clearly is below it offensively and all-around now).

I'd say 2007 to 2019 was his prime (his peak being from 2010-2014) and his recent seasons are good longevity years.
 
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For me his prime was when he was a threat to win a scoring title or another significant offensive trophy, so I think it's 2006-07 (art ross) to 2016-17 (rocket, 2nd in scoring). That would make it an 11 season prime.
The Cros Peak.png
 
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I Hate Blake Coleman said:
What about the repeat? He won back to back Conn Smythe trophies.
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Yeah, it depends on how much we want to extend the definition of prime.

2010-2017 is a fair shout too.

Not being able to complete that 2010-11 season will be a real regret for him because I think he would have wrecked everyone in the playoffs that year.
 
We never got to see a “true” prime Sidney Crosby. Injuries robbed us of that. He’d likely have AT LEAST 2 more Art Rosses, another Hart and break 130pts. That’s the LEAST that I would have expected. Who knows how long he could have kept that pace up if not for injuries.

With that being said, his physical peak was likely between 2010-2014.
 
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Nucks2001 said:
We never got to see a “true” prime Sidney Crosby. Injuries robbed us of that. He’d likely have AT LEAST 2 more Art Rosses, another Hart and break 130pts. That’s the LEAST that I would have expected. Who knows how long he could have kept that pace up for if not for injuries.

With that being said, his physical peak was likely between 2010-2014.
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We would also be having legit discussions about him cracking the 2K point threshold too. It really is a shame.
 
TheBeastCoast said:
We would also be having legit discussions about him cracking the 2K point threshold too. It really is a shame.
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Oh for sure.

He was on pace for 132pts in 2010-2011.
Probably would hit 130 again in 2011-2012

Was on pace for 120+ in 2013. Add 64pts to his total that season.


That’s 326pts right there based off the top of my head and some rough estimates.
 
2007-14
During these years Crosby was always clearly ahead of the pack in PPG. OV, Malkin (and the Sedins huge year in 09) were the only ones that could match him. I feel during these years that if Crosby played enough games that he would win the Art Ross like we've seen with McDavid, and just like with McDavid he is not unbeatable (Kucherov/Draisaitl for McDavid, Malkin/OV for Crosby). He was also the PPG leader in 2015 but now the lead was so small from the field that I feel like he was no longer in his prime because he didn't really dominate like he did before. In 2016 he had a lower PPG than Jamie Benn and Patrick Kane so that can hardly be called a prime year. I like 2017 as his last prime year even if he was behind McDavid in PPG.
 
Eternal Leaf said:
His absolute peak was 2010-11. It was complete domination before the injury with his skills being at their very best.

Otherwise, his prime years would be 2010-2013.

It's amazing how he continues to be an excellent player to this day.
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It's such a shame those concussions happened. 2011 Sid was truly incredible by even his own standards.
 
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Prime - The timeframe in which he was getting Hart/Lindsay recognition which was until 20/21 when he was nominated for the Lindsay and was 4th in Hart voting. Since then, he has been a Top 10 player.

Peak/close to peak - 06/07 to 17/18 where he was the best player in the world or shared that title with OV, Malkin, and McDavid

His peak ended when he came down with a viral infection in Nov. 2014. That, and a new coach who tried to make the Pens into a defensive team, dropped his PPG under 0.90 for the next 80 games or so until Sullivan took over. From December 2015 onwards, he returned to being the league's best player (and top goalscorer), won two Smythes and the World Cup MVP.

In 17/18, he, and the Pens, had absolutely nothing to accomplish in the regular season other than to get ready for a 3rd Cup run. When the playoffs started, he returned to Best in the World form.
 
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I would say these dozen or so years where he was consistently in the top 10 when he played enough games. Between the injuries, low scoring eras, awful wingers… he could have really stacked up scoring titles.

06 - 6th
07 - 1st
09 - 3rd
10 - 2nd
13 - 3rd
14 - 1st
15 - 3rd
16 - 3rd
17 - 2nd
18 - 10th
19 - 5th
21 - 10th
 
Prime : 2006-07 to 2016-17

Peak : 2010-11 to 2012-13

Absolute peak : 2010-11

That being said, he’s probably the only player in history who has played near his prime level for his entire career
 
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