June 12, 2009: When the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Detroit Red Wings in game 7 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals, Penguins’ star center Sidney Crosby became the youngest captain in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup.
While most 19-20 year-olds are figuring out their college major and drinking limits, Sidney Crosby, at just 19 years and 297 days old, was announced the captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
And while that seems incredibly young and possibly irresponsible of Penguins’ management, Crosby had the resume and character to earn his leadership role.
Drafted 1st overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Sidney Crosby was one of the only bright spots of the Penguins 2005-06 season.
Crosby stepped in and shined in his rookie season, scoring 39 goals and registering 63 assists for a total of 102 points at just 18 years old!
But even with all that production from a youngster on an entry-level deal, the 2005-06 Pittsburgh Penguins failed to miss the playoffs for the 4th straight season.
Fortunately for Pens fans, Sidney Crosby returned the following season with something to prove.
Not only did Crosby win the Art Ross Trophy by leading the entire NHL in scoring with 120 points in the 2006-07 season, but he also earned his first Hart Trophy, Ted Lindsay award, and taste of NHL postseason action, ultimately losing in 5 games to Ottawa in the opening round of the 2007 playoffs.
But with the help of emerging superstar center and teammate Evgeni Malkin, Crosby and Penguins made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals in the 2007-08 season where they fell to the veteran Detroit Red Wings in 6 games.
Crazy to think the Pittsburgh Penguins went from missing the playoffs to the Stanley Cup Finals in just 3 seasons with Sidney Crosby.
But it was the 2008-09 season Crosby decided to make history.
In just his 4th regular season and 3rd postseason experience in his illustrious NHL career, Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Detroit Red Wings in game 7 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals to win the Stanley Cup.
At just 21 years and 10 months old, Sidney Crosby became the youngest captain in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup.
And the legend of Sidney Crosby has grown ever since, winning back-to-back Olympic Gold Medals in 2010 and 2014 before back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.
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