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Sidney Crosby set a new NHL record on Thursday, becoming the first player in league history to record 20 point-per-game seasons. The Pittsburgh Penguins captain surpassed Wayne Gretzky’s long-standing record of 19 such seasons, proving Crosby is now the most consistently excellent player in the history of the NHL.
Crosby had 79 points going into Thursday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres. It was his 72nd game of the season (the Penguins’ 74th of the campaign). With a goal in the first period, he reached 80 points, which, if he plays the remaining games, would take him to 80 games in the season.
His consistency and dominance have remained unwavering since the Penguins selected him first overall in 2005.
Point-Per-Game Seasons Isn’t Wild, But Crosby Having 20 Of Them Is
Averaging at least one point per game is one way to define the best of the best in the NHL. It’s not unheard of for multiple players to reach that benchmark and be among the elite. But, for someone to do it in back-to-back seasons starts to set them apart. The more they do it, the more elite company they place themselves in. For Crosby to have done so 20 times is amazing.
One would have to go back to the 2011-12 season when he played in only 22 games to see that he posted under 40 points.
Crosby’s ability to reach this milestone for two decades is a testament to how good he is. His level of skill and consistency is unmatched.
And to beat Gretzky’s record is even more impressive. This might be the second huge Gretzky record to go down this season, assuming Alex Ovechkin can break the all-time goal-scoring record.
Congratulations to Sidney Crosby on an amazing career that isn’t anywhere close to over. There’s every chance he will add to this running total and make it nearly impossible to break.
More must-reads:
- Avalanche sign superstar's younger brother to entry-level deal
- Watch: Alex Ovechkin scores goal No. 890, five away from record
- The 'Most runs scored in an MLB season since 2000' quiz
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Avalanche sign superstar's younger brother to entry-level deal
The Avalanche announced they’ve signed forward Taylor Makar to a one-year entry-level contract for the 2025-26 campaign. The younger brother of Colorado superstar Cale Makar will finish the season on a tryout with AHL Colorado. His contract carries a cap hit of $925K and breaks down to an $832.5K base salary, a $92.5K signing bonus and an $80K minors salary, per PuckPedia. Colorado selected the younger Makar with their seventh-round pick in the 2021 draft. The 6’4″, 209-lb forward was coming off an injury-plagued junior "A" season with the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League at the time, but he was solid when dressed with 19 points in 16 games. The Bandits, of course, are where Cale played his junior hockey before Colorado selected him fourth overall in 2017. Like his older brother, Taylor committed to UMass and jumped to the collegiate ranks after being drafted. The grinder never found much of a role on the squad, though, and recorded 15-7–22 in 85 games before entering the transfer portal following his junior season. After landing with the University of Maine for his senior year, the 24-year-old managed to outproduce his totals with UMass in just 38 games. He finished second on the No. 3 team in the country in scoring, posting 18-12–30 in 38 appearances with a +24 rating. Maine’s season ended last Friday after they were upset by Penn State in the regional semifinals of the national tournament. Makar is a long shot to crack the NHL roster next year, given the weakness of his collegiate resume as a whole, but his senior year breakout is promising as he looks to capture a significant AHL role. He’ll be a restricted free agent in 2026. Colorado now has 30 players under contract for next season.
Braves could lose underrated reason for success after 2025
Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker is the definition of a baseball lifer. A 25th-round selection in the 1976 MLB Draft, Snitker spent four years as a catcher in the Braves system before transitioning into coaching. He was a long time minor league manager, an important figure in developing generations of talent. Snitker's journey may be nearing an end. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that Snitker may retire at the end of this season. However, Snitker also told USA Today's Bob Nightengale that reaching 50 years as part of the Braves organization would be "pretty cool." Snitker being the Braves manager heading into 2025 is remarkable. He became the interim manager after Fredi Gonzalez was fired after a 9-28 start to the 2016 season. The then 60-year-old Snitker had managed the Braves' young core as they came through the system, making him the logical choice for the rest of the year. Although the Braves were 59-65 under Snitker, the Braves showed drastic improvement on the field. The vibe and atmosphere in the clubhouse improved. The Braves removed Snitker's interim label after the season, giving him a one-year deal to remain as the manager. That decision has worked out well. Snitker's quiet leadership and trust in his players have led to another run of success in Atlanta. The Braves had a 735-586 record under Snitker entering Monday, having won six division titles and the 2021 World Series. If there is one person who exemplifies the Braves Way, it would be Brian Snitker. He has helped mold the Braves stars, from the days of Tom Glavine and Chipper Jones through Ronald Acuna Jr. Snitker has been a hidden part of the Braves' success, an underrated manager who has done nothing but win. If this is indeed his final season on the bench, the Braves will miss his steady leadership and guiding hand.
Browns owner says team 'took a big swing and miss' with Deshaun Watson
A report from January indicated that at least some veteran players with the Cleveland Browns at that time were done with quarterback Deshaun Watson after he suffered a torn Achilles on Oct. 20 and then tore the Achilles again during his recovery. While speaking with reporters on Monday, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam seemed to close the door on the club's disastrous Watson era. "We took a big swing and miss with Deshaun," Haslam acknowledged, as shared by Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "We thought we had the quarterback. We didn’t, and we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him. So, we’ve got to dig ourselves out of that hole." The Browns controversially sent three first-round picks and other draft assets to the Houston Texans to acquire Watson in March 2022 after he sat out the 2021 season amid his desire to be traded. Allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions hovered over Watson's status when Cleveland gave him a fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract to accept the trade, and he ultimately served an 11-game suspension related to those accusations in 2022. Two grand juries declined to pursue criminal charges against Watson before he was suspended. Watson's 2023 campaign ended prematurely because of a shoulder injury, and he was one of the league's worst starting quarterbacks this past season before he went down with the torn Achilles. Many who cover the team believe Watson will never play another meaningful down of football with the Browns even if the club doesn't select a signal-caller such as Colorado's Shedeur Sanders with the second pick of the 2025 draft. In total, Watson has made just 19 regular-season starts since the end of the 2020 campaign. "He’s had three horrific injuries in what, a 15-month period, right? Shoulder, tears his Achilles and re-tears his Achilles," Haslam said about Watson. "I think the focus now is on getting him healthy, and how long does that take, and when can he be healthy? So, that’s the main thing we’d be focused on." Outsiders may never know exactly what was said during conversations involving Haslam, Browns co-owner Dee Haslam, general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski back in the fall of 2021 that resulted in the team replacing fan-favorite Baker Mayfield with Watson. On Monday, Jimmy Haslam accepted the blame for that decision. "I’ve said this, I think, numerous times, [that the Watson move] was an entire organization decision, and it ends with Dee and I. So, hold us accountable," Jimmy Haslam added during his comments. One can't help but wonder if Watson, who hasn't been shy about sending strong messages to critics in the past, will respond to Haslam's comments.
Insider Has Promising Financial Update For A Potential Deal Between The Steelers And Aaron Rodgers
Packers will aim to resolve Jaire Alexander situation before draft
Indications from earlier this offseason pointed to Jaire Alexander‘s time with the Packers coming to an end in 2025. The high-priced cornerback remains on Green Bay’s roster for now, but a soft deadline has emerged for a resolution. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said at Monday’s league meetings he hopes this situation will come to an end before the draft (h/t Matt Schneidman of The Athletic). He noted keeping Alexander in place is a possibility at this point, although the team’s decision to shop him in advance of free agency obviously indicates a willingness to move on. If a trade agreement is to be worked out, finding appropriate value in a return will be a key challenge. “We invested a lot in Jaire and want to make sure, if he’s not gonna be on our football team helping us win games, that we get something back for that investment,” Gutekunst said (via Schneidman). “So we’ll see where it goes.” Alexander established himself as one of the league’s top cover men during the early portion of his career. The Louisville product found himself the highest-paid corner in the NFL at the time that he inked his extension in 2022, but things have not gone according to plan since then. Alexander has only played seven games in each of the past two years, and that lack of availability has outweighed performances roughly in line with those of past campaigns. Green Bay’s list of initial free agent moves included a deal for Nate Hobbs. The former Raider inked a four-year, $48MM deal, and as a result he will be counted on to operate as a key figure in the Packers’ secondary. The Hobbs move could make a parting of ways easier on the Alexander front, especially if the team uses a high draft pick on another corner next month. The 28-year-old is due a base salary of $16.15MM in 2025 and $18.15MM the following year. Those figures represent understandable causes for concern on the part of potential suitors and help explain the expectation a release – rather than a trade – will take place. Whatever the outcome in Alexander’s case, it may take place in the relatively near future.
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