Earlier this week, ESPN published an article ranking the top 100 athletes of the 21st century. The 100 athletes ranged from a variety of sports such as baseball, football, basketball, hockey, tennis, soccer, and many more. Across those sports and over 20+ years, is not something to take lightly and should be celebrated. The one issue with this list is the continued disrespect hockey continues to get. There were only three hockey players on this list including Sidney Crosby (22nd), Alex Ovechkin (54th), and Connor McDavid (98th). Some notable stars that should have been included are Nathan MacKinnon, Patrick Kane, Martin Brodeur, and others. Basketball had the most players with 24, which was seven higher than the next closest which was baseball.
Hockey, considered one of the four major sports in Canada and the USA, and regarded by many as having the toughest playoffs to win, was one of the most disrespected. Furthermore, hockey only had more athletes on the list than sports like swimming, gymnastics, MMA, skiing, snowboarding, and cricket. Hockey had less athletes represented than boxing, golf, and tennis. They had the same amount of athletes represented as track & field, and auto racing. Hockey fans would say it should have more athletes represented than all of the sports previously mentioned.
Making ESPN’s Top-100 Means Sidney Crosby’s Legacy Continues
Crosby was the highest hockey player honoured, and rightfully so, due to his accomplishments. The three-time Stanley Cup winner, two-time Art Ross Trophy winner, two-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner, two-time Conn Smythe winner, eight-time NHL All-Star, his 2010 Winter Olympic overtime goal-medal final, game-winning goal, and many more on his laundry list of accomplishments place him as the 22nd best athlete in the 21st Century. Crosby has been the captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins for 17 years. Moreover, he has been the main reason the Penguins have won three Stanley Cups throughout his career. Also, they made the playoffs 17 years in a row.
Just this past season, Crosby earned himself two more milestones, in one game as a matter of fact. In a game against the Detroit Red Wings, Crosby assisted Erik Karlsson for the game-winning goal in what was Crosby’s 1,000th career assist and placed him in 10th all-time in points. Crosby is 36 years old and entering his 20th season in the league. However, the scarier part is the fact that Crosby is still playing at an elite level, as he had 94 points this past season.
One More Record to Chase
Crosby is currently second all-time in faceoffs won at 14,648. He is just 189 faceoffs won behind Patrice Bergeron. This is a record Crosby will chase and most likely break, assuming he stays healthy, likely he will break it in 2024-25. Considering he is only 189 faceoffs won behind Bergeron and won 1,090 this past season. As a result, Crosby should add another career record to his name early next season.
What Can’t Sidney Crosby Do?
In addition to his stellar hockey play, Crosby has always been a great teammate and even a fortune teller. Crosby’s teammate Kris Letang recalled how, in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final against the San Jose Sharks, Crosby vowed that Letang and he would team up on the “biggest goal” of the night. Later that game, they connected for a game-winner that secured Pittsburgh’s fourth Cup in franchise history. Letang was understandably stunned by Crosby’s fortune-telling prowess on such a large stage.
Crosby has always been a great teammate and is constantly giving advice mentoring the younger guys and boosting their confidence. One of Crosby’s former teammates and linemate Conor Sheary recalls Crosby reassuring that Sheary was paired with him for a reason and just to play his game. Sheary needed the high praise from Crosby and it was something he never forgot.
When thinking of the NHL in the 21st century, there is nobody more accomplished than Crosby. As a result, he was rewarded with being the 22nd top athlete in the 21st Century according to ESPN’s top-100 list from across the world and the number one NHL player in that timeframe.
Main photo credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
