Through the first four games of the new season, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has amassed no goals and two assists to go with a very un-Sid-like minus-3. Over the past two games, both losses, he’s a minus-5 and has been kept off the scoresheet entirely.
Worse, to my eye, he’s been practically invisible. It’s one thing not to notice a stay-at-home defenseman like former Pen Brian Dumoulin. In fact, that’s a good thing. But arguably the finest all-around player in the history of the game, not to mention the most consistent?
To be fair, there are elements of Crosby’s game that are still strong. He’s won over 55 percent of his faceoffs. He has a dozen shots on goal, tied for most on the team with fellow icon Kris Letang. Deep into his surefire Hall-of-Fame career he’s still driving play if not puck possession. So it isn’t as if he’s completely fallen into a black hole.
Too, he’s been dealing with a revolving door of linemates with newcomers Nick Robertson and Hendrix Lapierre auditioning on his flank. To say nothing of an all-too-brief training camp and preseason to prepare.
Still, I wonder. At age 39, is Father Time finally catching up to No. 87?
I first noticed a downturn in Sid’s play earlier in 2026 during the stretch leading up to the Olympics. In six games prior to the break, he registered just two assists to go with a minus-4.
Somewhere during that stretch or immediately preceding it, I remember watching an opposing defensemen fall on top of Sid. I vividly recall holding my breath as he skated somewhat gingerly to the bench.
I’ve never read anything to suggest Crosby was hurt or impaired by the incident. But I do know his production, his goal scoring in particular, has declined rather sharply since.
Indeed, over his last 22 regular-season games he’s tallied only two goals and 19 points. His shooting percentage over that span? A microscopic 3.7 percent.
Certainly, the knee injury he sustained during the Olympics courtesy of a Radko Gudas hit factored in. Too, hockey players, even one as marvelously consistent as our captain, are prone to peaks and valleys.
Still, it’s safe to say he hasn’t been his usual productive self, and for quite some time.
Not to suggest they’re the same player, but I recall how Jeff Carter literally dried up halfway through his age 38 season and quickly morphed into a hollowed-out shell of his former imposing self.
Even the incomparable Mario Lemieux with all his extraordinary gifts eventually reached the end of the line (although I’m convinced Mario could still run a power play at age 61).
Might Sid likewise be entering the twilight of a brilliant career?
I shudder to think it might be the case.
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Hey Rick,
If I may weigh in here,
Our Captain certainly isn't the Crosby he was at 29 but I do not think he is dried up. Over the last 4 or 5 years he has had rather slow starts. Sullivan would panicked each year and robbed a higher production line (Geno was always flying at the start of the season and would routinely lose his wingers to Sid). Muse didn't panic as much (Geno didn't lose his wingers Mantha and Brazeau until he was injured and Muse gave those wingers to Kindel). However, by late October, early November Sid always found his game in the past and I would expect him to do so again this season, at least from an offensive point of view. Although this season, I don't see him returning to form until Muse reunites the Rust - Crosby - Rakell line or subsitutes CHinakhov into that line sonewhere. Lapierrre and Robertson were stupid @$$ signings by a HoHO that has no plan and keeps throwing $4!t at the wall hoping something sticks.
Where I see Sid losing it is defensively. Over the last three seasons he has still put up large personal numbers and his line has also contributed heavily on the score sheet - once our Captain got his legs under him. Defensively, though, Crosby has slowly faded..
It also doesn't help Sid's defensive game when Du(M)bas(S) keeps trotting out ersatz Goalies that can't control rebounds, have no idea how to play their angles, fold when they give up a bad goal, take stupid risks, in other words have no idea of how to play the position, often spending more time trying to score goals rather than honing skills to protect their own net. If our brainless trust were forced to go with Blomqvist and Murashov, once these kids get steady NHL wok, they will stem the bleeding tidal waves of goals from the tsunami that ravages this team's goal, freeing all forwards to once again attack at high speed, and we would once again wonder at the skill of not only Crosby but Malkin.
Last Game, Silovs did face a couple of break aways etc, but he was never in a position to stop any of those shots because he was never lined up between the shooter and the net, any saves he made were because the shooter didn't really look the net over but simply fired blindly.