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Penguins Announce Historic Achievement to Start NHL Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Oct 8, 2025 1:15 PM ET

The Pittsburgh Penguins opened their season Tuesday night not just with a win over the New York Rangers, but with a moment that was unprecedented across all major American professional sports.

Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang officially began their 20th NHL campaign together, a feat never before achieved in the history of the NHL, NBA, NFL or MLB, according to NHL.com.

The trio’s milestone came as Pittsburgh defeated the Rangers 3-0 in its 2025–26 season opener. Tuesday's game marked two decades since Crosby’s debut in the 2005-06 season, followed by Malkin and Letang a year later, forming a core that defined an impressive era of Penguins hockey.

Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang are three of 38 players in the history of the NHL, NBA, MLB and NFL to play 20 seasons with a single team – and the only three to do so concurrently. pic.twitter.com/9kV0sjJw0Z
— Penguins PR (@PenguinsPR) October 8, 2025

“It's rare, and it's definitely special,” Crosby said. “You don't see that very often in hockey, let alone anything, any sport, really. So, I feel really grateful and fortunate that I've been able to play with these guys for this long, and that we have some great memories together, and that we're able to continue to play together.

“It's not something that happens too often. So, definitely appreciate it.”

The numbers behind the trio are staggering. Crosby, now 38, sits at 1,687 career points (625 goals, 1,062 assists) and could soon pass Mario Lemieux (1,723 points) for the most in Penguins history.

Malkin, 39, is next behind Crosby with 1,346 career points (514 goals, 832 assists), while Letang, 38, ranks fifth in the franchise all-time leaderboard while leading all Pittsburgh defensemen in history with 772 points in 1,161 games.

Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) listens to center Sidney Crosby (87).Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Together, Crosby, Malkin and Letang have lifted the Stanley Cup three times, in 2009, 2016, and 2017, and played in four Stanley Cup Finals.

When it comes to their futures and partnership extending beyond this season, that's still a possibility.

Crosby is signed through 2026, Letang through 2028, and Malkin, although in the final year of his contract, could extend that legacy further if he chooses to re-sign with the Penguins next offseason. If he does, the trio could return for a 21st season together.

The Penguins are off on Wednesday before returning to the ice on Thursday to face the New York Islanders, with puck drop set for 7 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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