Penguins Notebook: 'Prime' numbers for Crosby?
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Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has already eclipsed the single-season bests in goals and points for linemate Chris Kunitz.
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Sidney Crosby's goals (24) and points (48) through 29 games eclipse the season bests of all of his Penguins teammates except Evgeni Malkin, Chris Kunitz, Jordan Staal and Mike Comrie, with Pascal Dupuis having matched that points total once.
Crosby is 23 and in his sixth NHL season. By all measurable standards, he has raised his game to new and exceptional heights, including a 16-game points streak going into tonight's game against Toronto.
Conventional wisdom suggests that hockey players reach their prime in their mid-20s, but that's up for interpretation.
"I think it's different for everybody," Crosby said. "I think it depends on a lot of things -- like when you come in [to the NHL] -- and everyone develops differently and adjusts. It depends on your situation, your role on the team, everything.
"I guess the average, I would say, is 25 to whatever. But with guys coming in as young as they are now, it might be a little earlier. Who knows? Anytime around 24, 25, I would say that's your prime."
So Crosby might be close to his prime -- or perhaps this is the tip of the iceberg.
"I don't know what that is, when the prime is," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. "Doctors can talk about what the physical prime is. But I feel like I'm always trying to get better no matter what I'm doing, and Sidney Crosby is always going to try to get better no matter what age he's at.
"He seems to be finding a consistency to his level now that's unique for even him. Maybe that's him coming into his prime. I don't know, but I know this: He's going to keep working to get better."
The Penguins' Kris Letang, a write-in candidate, leads all defensemen and ranks No. 2 overall after the third week of NHL All-Star fan voting. Crosby continues to lead all players.
Letang, who was second among league defensemen with 26 points in 29 games before Tuesday's games, has 210,807 votes. He was in fourth place a week ago but moved ahead of Philadelphia's Chris Pronger, Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom and Chicago's Duncan Keith.
First Published December 8, 2010 12:00 am
