Sidney Crosby’s age-38 revival powers surprising Penguins, fuels push for MVP

Overall, Crosby has 29 points (18 goals, 11 assists) in 25 games and is pushing himself into the league MVP conversation. It’s still early, but if Crosby — who will turn 39 on Aug. 7 — continues this level of play and captures the Hart Trophy, he would become the oldest player in NHL history to win the award. (According to FanDuel, Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon is the favorite for MVP.)

Sidney Crosby is making his case for the Hart Trophy 

Despite putting up massive numbers, winning three Stanley Cups and cementing himself as one of the greatest players of all time, Crosby somehow has only two Hart Trophies.

Much of that can be chalked up to narrative and voter fatigue — when you’re the best player in the world for so long, people start looking elsewhere. But now that he’s the “old guy,” if he keeps torching the league and drags the Penguins back into the postseason, a third Hart is absolutely within reach.

Superstars Connor McDavid (11 goals, 36 points) of the Edmonton Oilers and MacKinnon (20 goals, 44 points), along with young phenoms Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks (14 goals, 40 points) and Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks (16 goals, 37 points), will be difficult to outshine. But the storyline of a 38-year-old Crosby leading a Pittsburgh team that few believed in is powerful enough to hang with any of them.

Crosby, who had 33 goals and 91 points last season, isn't just producing at his typical point-per-game clip — it’s the goal scoring that’s been eye-opening. With 18 goals in 25 games, Crosby is on pace for 59, which would shatter his career-high 51 from 2009–10.

He may not maintain that torrid pace, but even the possibility of 40-plus goals at his age, on this Penguins team, is remarkable. You can’t overstate how special this run has been.

There’s plenty of hockey left, and the Penguins were hovering around a playoff spot at this time last year before fading. 

But this feels different — and if hockey fans have learned anything by now, it’s to never count out Crosby. If he gets the Penguins — whose next game is Thursday at Tampa Bay — back into the dance, look out.