Ryan Wilson: Sidney Crosby is Bruin up quite the season Sidney Crosby is Bruin up quite the season

Not sure who else other than Gretzky have accomplished the milestone, but Crosby may have a shot at 2000 career points if he can stay healthy for a few more years.

Not sure who else other than Gretzky have accomplished the milestone, but Crosby may have a shot at 2000 career points if he can stay healthy for a few more years.
- knagra

Jagr came close, he had over 1900.

Crosby is 457 away (1543). Say he plays for 5 more years (which may be generous), he'll have to average 90+ points per year. Now...take away the lockout and his bigger injuries plus Covid, and he'd probably be at around 1700.

Mario would easily have 2000 if it wasn't for cancer, the 04/05 lockout, and his 3 years retired.

Jagr came close, he had over 1900.

Crosby is 457 away (1543). Say he plays for 5 more years (which may be generous), he'll have to average 90+ points per year. Now...take away the lockout and his bigger injuries plus Covid, and he'd probably be at around 1700.

Mario would easily have 2000 if it wasn't for cancer, the 04/05 lockout, and his 3 years retired.
- jmatchett383

Correct, if you take Sids PPG average and add it to the games he has missed, it would be at 1737.

Wouldn't the Pens be best served to trade away their players and do a reset. Could you imagine the return for Crosby, Malkin, and Letang?

I can already hear that they will finish their careers in PIT. While I respect that alot (it's a big thing for players to stay with 1 franchise), the holes left with them retiring (and not getting any assets for them) would be crazy

Wouldn't the Pens be best served to trade away their players and do a reset. Could you imagine the return for Crosby, Malkin, and Letang?

I can already hear that they will finish their careers in PIT. While I respect that alot (it's a big thing for players to stay with 1 franchise), the holes left with them retiring (and not getting any assets for them) would be crazy
- AlfieisKing

That's not lost of anyone. Given that those 3 have been together for the best era of Penguins' hockey and have won 3 Cups, most of the fanbase would rather let them retire as Penguins and deal with the fallout as it comes. Even if they don't win another Cup together.

But yes, if you take emotional bias out of the equation, you are correct.

Wouldn't the Pens be best served to trade away their players and do a reset. Could you imagine the return for Crosby, Malkin, and Letang?

I can already hear that they will finish their careers in PIT. While I respect that alot (it's a big thing for players to stay with 1 franchise), the holes left with them retiring (and not getting any assets for them) would be crazy
- AlfieisKing

Nope, it would not be best served. Rebuilds can take time and I'd rather watch a competitive, entertaining team until 3 of my favorite players retire, than gamble on "expediting" a rebuild that isn't guaranteed (see: Buffalo), so no, it is not in their best interest.

Jagr didn't leave for nothing. Three assets acquired for him. How'd those assets help the Pens after?

Mario didn't retrieve any assets when he left.

We're talking about three guys who are still producing great and still believe in themselves and their team.. A team that today is only 2 points out of 1st wild card spot with a game in hand, only 1 point out of 2nd WC spot with two games in hand and 4 points out of 2nd in Metro with one game in hand.

Selling these guys off is absolutely nowhere on the GM, or franchise's, minds or radars, at all and the players really want to be Penguins. No gaurnetee in rebuilds, they can literally take a decade, or more, sometimes and these three guys have paid their dues and then some to the Pens. If they want to be Penguins then surround them with good players and give them a chance to win until they hang them up or want to go elsewhere. They deserve it.

Wouldn't the Pens be best served to trade away their players and do a reset. Could you imagine the return for Crosby, Malkin, and Letang?

I can already hear that they will finish their careers in PIT. While I respect that alot (it's a big thing for players to stay with 1 franchise), the holes left with them retiring (and not getting any assets for them) would be crazy
- AlfieisKing

Those guys control their future. They have no trade clauses for a reason.

Besides the fact you arent getting much for Malkin and Letang, it isnt how we want to do things. The vast majority of us know that our chances of competing with this core is low. Probably around a .500 team that barely makes or misses the playoffs. Most of us want to see those guys ride out their careers more so that get marginal assets. We also understand we will be terrible when they eventually retire. Most of us watched this team pre-Crosby. Those werent always fun times, but its how it works.

Jagr didn't leave for nothing. Three assets acquired for him. How'd those assets help the Pens after?
- MattStrat

Firstly, I won't allow any bad talk of Kris "The Next Ron Francis" Beech. So check yourself.

Secondly, the Penguins would have gotten an every better haul in the trade had they only traded Frantisek Kucera and didn't include Jagr as a throw-in.

Thirdly, getting rid of Jagr allowed them to bottom out and draft an extremely athletic but technically flawed goaltender, two dudes who are kinda okay at professional ice hockey, Colby Armstrong (best known as the other dude in the Max Talbot commercial), Glue Gloves, and of course Johannes Salmonsson.

Those guys control their future. They have no trade clauses for a reason.

Besides the fact you arent getting much for Malkin and Letang, it isnt how we want to do things. The vast majority of us know that our chances of competing with this core is low. Probably around a .500 team that barely makes or misses the playoffs. Most of us want to see those guys ride out their careers more so that get marginal assets. We also understand we will be terrible when they eventually retire. Most of us watched this team pre-Crosby. Those werent always fun times, but its how it works.
- SuperHenderson13

As a life-long Flyers fan, I would gladly trade one Cup for 10 years of mediocrity. This Pens era produced 3.

Wouldn't the Pens be best served to trade away their players and do a reset. Could you imagine the return for Crosby, Malkin, and Letang?

I can already hear that they will finish their careers in PIT. While I respect that alot (it's a big thing for players to stay with 1 franchise), the holes left with them retiring (and not getting any assets for them) would be crazy
- AlfieisKing

Nope. Carters not going anywhere.

As a life-long Flyers fan, I would gladly trade one Cup for 10 years of mediocrity. This Pens era produced 3.
- jmatchett383

Torts got those boys believing though.

Torts got those boys believing though.
- Grinder47

They're definitely less horrible.

Wouldn't the Pens be best served to trade away their players and do a reset. Could you imagine the return for Crosby, Malkin, and Letang?

I can already hear that they will finish their careers in PIT. While I respect that alot (it's a big thing for players to stay with 1 franchise), the holes left with them retiring (and not getting any assets for them) would be crazy
- AlfieisKing

Like clockwork, another one of these posts.

Firstly, I won't allow any bad talk of Kris "The Next Ron Francis" Beech. So check yourself.

Secondly, the Penguins would have gotten an every better haul in the trade had they only traded Frantisek Kucera and didn't include Jagr as a throw-in.

Thirdly, getting rid of Jagr allowed them to bottom out and draft an extremely athletic but technically flawed goaltender, two dudes who are kinda okay at professional ice hockey, Colby Armstrong (best known as the other dude in the Max Talbot commercial), Glue Gloves, and of course Johannes Salmonsson.
- jmatchett383

In the end the Jagr trade didn’t matter because Marc Donk and Buzz Flibbett saved the franchise

As a life-long Flyers fan, I would gladly trade one Cup for 10 years of mediocrity. This Pens era produced 3.
- jmatchett383

And that's just it. There isnt a single penguin fan that can be regretting this era of hockey in Pittsburgh. Im not going to say trade everyone because we arent playing as a top team. Sooner or later you just need to accept as time goes on, things slow down and expectations need to drop. All until Uncle Gary rigs the lottery for us again.


I spent my high school/college/young adult years having a really good hockey team. Cannot ask much more than that.

I’m curious who glue gloves is?

In the end the Jagr trade didn’t matter because Marc Donk and Buzz Flibbett saved the franchise
- Victoro311

It's a shame the Pens haven't retired their numbers yet.

Not sure who else other than Gretzky have accomplished the milestone, but Crosby may have a shot at 2000 career points if he can stay healthy for a few more years.
- knagra

Jagr finished with 1921 points. If he hadn't gone to the KHL for 3 seasons he would've ended up around 2100.

Sid was 97 points behind Jagr after each of their age 35 seasons, but since Jags then spent 3 years in the KHL, Sid is gaining on him with every point this year and for the next two seasons after this. If Sid stays healthy, Sid could be 150 points ahead of Jags going into their age 39 seasons.

Jagr scored 322 points from age 39 until he retired. If Sid were to match that, and stay healthy until then, he'd end up close to 2100.

I think it's unlikely that he plays that long, but it wouldn't be shocking to me if Sid did manage to pass 2000 points.

I’m curious who glue gloves is?
- Grinder47

It's not obvious?

Jagr finished with 1921 points. If he hadn't gone to the KHL for 3 seasons he would've ended up around 2100.

Sid was 97 points behind Jagr after each of their age 35 seasons, but since Jags then spent 3 years in the KHL, Sid is gaining on him with every point this year and for the next two seasons after this. If Sid stays healthy, Sid could be 150 points ahead of Jags going into their age 39 seasons.

Jagr scored 322 points from age 39 until he retired. If Sid were to match that, and stay healthy until then, he'd end up close to 2100.

I think it's unlikely that he plays that long, but it wouldn't be shocking to me if Sid did manage to pass 2000 points.
- MickV

Don't forget Jagr also had a full lockout and 2 half season lockouts as well.

Been loving harkens forecheck the last couple weeks. If only he had a line that could help him bury some of those forced turnovers. I think he’d be 1/3 of a good 3rd line.
- 10inchTerror

They missed an opportunity to move him up while DOC was in the top 6. I like Harkins game too, but he'll probably lose his spot to Nieto.

Nope. Carters not going anywhere.
- Grinder47

How y'all feeling now?... Bruins are the second overall team in the league .. They weren't gonna just lay down and take it then add in Ned letting in things he'd normally save this season and you have a close score game... Down to the wire... Entertainment

Pens were by far the better team that game overall... 2 outta 3 periods... Score effects? Haha
- MattStrat

It was a highly entertaining game and an impressive team to beat. But it's also the type of game both coaches will want to throw out. Lot of uncharacteristically bad plays by Pettersson. Lots of Sid brilliance as normal. Got two weeks worth of depth scoring. Still barely noticed Malkin and Smith. Ned a little shaky but he's earned a pass.

Team is what we thought they were largely, on the playoff bubble. Deep dive we still feel lacking beyond the top line and top 3 defensemen. Goaltending has been stellar and keeping them a float, but we need more parts to click.