Sidney Crosby: How many Stanley Cups has the NHL legend won?

Sidney Crosby is one of the most prominent ice hockey players. He was the youngest player to achieve the captainship of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the history of the NHL. Born on August 7, 1987, in Canada, he has spearheaded the Pittsburgh Penguins to three Stanley Cups (2009, 2016, 2017).

In 2005, when he was just 18, the Penguins designated Crosby as the top choice in the NHL draft. Crosby was compared with NHL legend Wayne Gretzky and was considered the next 'The Great One'. As Crosby was very young, the team expected a lot from him, and he delivered. In the 2005-06 season, he was the only NHL youngest player to score at least 100 points, goals, and assists.

Sidney Crosby's other record-break performance was in the second season, where he scored 120 points in 79 games and was rewarded with the 'Art Ross Trophy'. He was given the tag of 'The Great One', as he was the youngest player to register a six-point game. He became the second player to do so, after Wayne Gretzky, and was honored with the Hart Trophy as the most valuable player.

In 2007, Sidney Crosby was made the captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins, becoming the youngest captain in NHL history.

During the 2007-08 season, he steered Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals but lost to the Detroit Red Wings in six games. The next year, Crosby scored 103 points and was ranked third in the NHL. The Penguins again reached the Finals, where they beat the Red Wings in seven games.

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Sidney Crosby's injury-plagued career

In 2011, Sidney Crosby’s career almost came to an end, as he got injured by the ice on the rink in January. Crosby also missed the 2010-11 season, and it was conjectured that post-concussion problems might not allow him to return to ice hockey.

After a prolonged recovery, in November 2011, he was back in action for the Penguins but was not able to play for more than two weeks. In March 2012, Crosby was back in the NHL but missed 12 games of the 2012-13 season because of a fractured jaw, scoring 1.56 points per game.

In 2013-14, the top-seeded Penguins had no chance against Boston Bruins in the finals. Despite the loss, Crosby clnched the Art Ross Trophy and One Hart Trophy, securing 104 points.

His scoring struggles continued, though, scoring just once in 13 playoff games. In 2014-15 too, the Penguins were not able to survive the playoffs and make the final, with Crosby scoring just 84 points, his career low in an NHL season.

During the 2016-17 season, the Penguins had the second-best record in the competition, and Sidney Crosby helped the Penguins to win the Stanley Cup. They beat the Nashville Predators in six games, with Crosby bagging eight goals and 19 assists. They also won the Conn Smythe Trophy.