Fantasy Hockey Player Spotlight: Sidney Crosby is the Face of Canadian Hockey and Here is Why

By popular demand and request, today we’ll be discussing the face of Canadian Hockey. And no, we’re not talking about Connor McDavid or Cale Makar, who were both named as assistants respectively. We’re talking about the OG who was named captain to Team Canada for the Four Nations Cup.

This Season

Sidney Crosby. The Next One. Sid the Kid. The Golden Goal. Captain Canada. Darryl? (If you know, you know - and good for you, you’re a real fan!)

Let’s get the elephant out of the room and talk stats this year, and how he is, continues to, or could potentially impact your fantasy hockey team and how he somehow still excels on the abysmal Pittsburgh Penguins.

This season, Sid has 16 goals, 39 assists for 55 points in 53 games. Seventeen of these points came in on the powerplay, with 148 shots on goal. He also has 47 hits and 29 blocked shots. 

Yes, that’s over a point a game. Pretty good for a 37-year-old player. If Crosby can still play like “Sid the Kid” in 2025, then look out for Team Canada at the Four Nations Cup!

International Play

Is there a better leader for Team Canada than Crosby? The simple answer is no. There are a minority few who might argue for McDavid to take the reins (more on what he thinks later), and today in his prime stood next to Sid, McDavid is a better player, yes. But! There’s always a but, isn’t there?

But! It’s not just about point production. It’s not just about vision on the ice. It’s about experience. It’s about pedigree. It’s about leadership. Crosby is a fierce competitor, and has won on every stage he’s been on. He does not buckle under pressure. He knows how to win, and he has the accolades to prove it.

If I listed every accolade that Crosby has achieved in his career, you would be here forever reading, and unless you are a diehard Penguins fan; you might even get bored. Yes, there are that many. I am not kidding. 

Let me point out a few that stand out and are important for this tournament:

Crosby has represented Team Canada in international tournaments between 2003, last representing in 2016. That’s not to say he hasn’t been selected for anything in nearly a decade, but instead to say the NHL has not allowed best on best or NHL players to participate in the Olympics for that long. 

In his international play, he has played 54 games, and has put up an impressive 32 goals, 35 assists, for a total of 67 points.

Crosby is a member of the illustrious “Triple Gold” club, meaning he has won an Olympic gold medal, a World Championship gold medal, and the Stanley Cup. These are regarded as the most coveted and important wins in hockey according to both the NHL and the IIHF. Pretty impressive, right? Right! Moving on.

Leadership

Crosby has been the captain of the Penguins since 2007. This will also be the fourth time he will serve as captain for Team Canada at a senior level on the international stage. Even assistant captain McDavid in an interview with the NHL on Crosby being named caption over him, stated; “It should be Sid. It should be Sid for sure, that’s not even a question,” Connor went on to say “It’s just how it should be. He’s Sidney Crosby and he’s been there so many times and he’s the guy. It’s not like I thought about it a lot, it’s just such a no-brainer.”

Listen, if the best player in the world today is saying it should be Sid, then it should be Sid. Crosby brings with him experience, a winning pedigree, a fierce competitiveness, and an urgency to win. His Penguins are struggling this year, and he has not abandoned hope with them.

There have been tons of trade rumors this year, more now than ever. Everyone and their mother thinks that he wants to go to another team and compete for another Stanley Cup. While this has been refuted and for the most part put to bed, the one likely landing spot for the legend is with lifelong friend and east coaster; Nathan MacKinnon in Colorado with the Avalanche. Given they just traded Mikko Rantanen and received Martin Necas in return, this remains unlikely.

Sid is also loyal to a fault. Loyal to the Penguins, and loyal to Canada. He has what it takes, and has proven it time and time again. He gave us (as a Canadian) the golden goal in 2010 to win Olympic gold. McDavid is right, he’s the guy!

Career Legacy

Crosby has been in the league since the 2005-2006 season. He's put up huge numbers, and growing up watching his rivalry with Alex Ovechkin has been a treat to watch. It is this generation's greatest rivalry, in any sport, and it’s not even close.

In 1,325 games played, he has scored 608 goals, 1043 assists, for 1651 points. He is still scoring at over a point per game, while averaging nearly 21 minutes a game at 37 years old. Keep in mind that he is still doing this on a bad team. But again his loyalty shines, because in his career it is not likely that his beloved Penguins will get another chance at the Stanley Cup. Yet he stays, and he competes.

Over his NHL career, he’s won three Stanley Cups (2009, 2016, 2017). He’s won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy twice (2010 and 2017). He's been selected to be an All-Star ten times. Continuing his NHL trophy collection, he’s also won the Art Ross twice, the Ted Lindsey Award three times, the Mark Messier Leadership Award three times, and the Conn Smythe Trophy three times. 

Closing Thoughts

Sid may no longer be the “kid” we grew up with, but he is certainly worthy of Team Canada’s captaincy. He is the franchise of both the Penguins, and the NHL since he entered the league. He is an advocate for the game, and is still performing like the legend he is.

I will bring it back to fantasy before I close out here by saying that every year, like his counterpart Ovi, he gets painted by the age brush and overlooked, but shouldn’t be. If you were able to snag him in your draft, or have him as a keeper, then you’ve obviously done well. He is certainly a target for you to trade for before the deadline. No, he might not be the future anymore, but as long as he is lacing up the skates, he is still the now.

Go get ‘em Sid, and bring us home another gold!