Will Sidney Crosby Win the Scoring Title Again this Season?

Jan 15, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) at the face-off circle against the Washington Capitals during the third period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins won 4-3.Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Sidney Crosby, Emperor Penguin

By this point it should be universally accepted that Sidney Crosby is the most talented player in the game today. Much of this honoured distinction is the result of Crosby being fairly good at piling up points like no other. How good exactly? Let’s take a look.

In every season that the Kid has played more than 70 games (5 times thus far), he has put up over 100 points. A feat not accomplished by many – of all active players in the league, the only one to put up as many 100-point seasons thus far in their career is the veteran Jaromir Jagr (who has 13 more seasons under his old, dusty belt).

Since his rookie season, Crosby has put up the third-most points of any player in the league (despite playing nearly 150 less games than the two players above him – Joe Thornton and Alex Ovechkin, both of whom have seen their play decline in recent years), and has led the league in points-per-game for the last four seasons.

So he’s pretty decent at getting his name on the scoreboard.

After dominating the scoring race last year en route to his second Art Ross trophy and a 17 point gap between him and the runner up (Ryan Getzlaf), it is safe to assume Crosby has a strong chance of capturing the trophy once again this season. Health will obviously be a significant factor in whether or not this is the case, but after two relatively healthy seasons, Crosby seems to be out of the woods on the injury front for now.

Even at full health, it won’t be a cakewalk though, as the NHL has a host of new superstars on the rise, all looking to make their mark in 2014-15. That being said, here are 5 players who could challenge Crosby for the crown this season:

Sep 26, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) skaes with the puck against the Dallas Stars during the second period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

1. Steven Stamkos

Perhaps the biggest threat to Crosby’s third Art Ross is goal-scoring monster Steven Stamkos. At only 24 years old, Stamkos has established himself as the unequivocal best in the world at putting pucks in the twine. Ovechkin may have had a resurgence last year with a 51-goal season, but the flashy Russian’s career has been spiraling downward for the last several seasons as Stamkos has improved year in and year out.

After having his Olympic year cut off by a devastating injury, Stamkos will be back hungrier than ever to reclaim his top spot in the goal-scoring column, and with six years of NHL experience under his belt at this point, he’ll finally look to contend for his first scoring title.

Considering his unmatched fitness level, his ability to score any way he chooses, and his role as the central offensive option in Tampa Bay, Stamkos certainly has all the tools to make a dangerous Art Ross bid.

Jan 27, 2013; Ottawa, ON, CAN; Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin (71) on his way to score the game winner against Ottawa Senators goaltender Craig Anderson (41) (not pictured) during the shoot-out period at Scotiabank Place. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

2. Evgeni Malkin

The Penguins’ second pillar of offensive prowess is also poised to figure into the scoring race this season. After eight dominant NHL seasons that have seen Evgeni Malkin win a Calder trophy, a Stanley Cup, a Conn Smythe trophy, a Hart trophy, a Ted Lindsay trophy, and two scoring titles, the powerful Russian seems to still be given less respect than he deserves in terms of his placement among the game’s all-time best.

While Geno’s statistics slumped slightly last year (he still put up a respectable 72 points in only 60 games), the offseason moves made by the Penguins’ management team should allow Malkin to reclaim his place among the league’s best. With Pittsburgh’s offense transitioning back to a more balanced approach that sees Malkin return to his role as the primary scorer on the second line, his numbers should see a boost that will allow him to claim his fourth 100-point season, and a spot among the top three scorers in the league.

Jan 21, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) warms up before facing the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

3. John Tavares

Just as Stamkos has seen has career project upwards for a number of years, John Tavares is on the rise as well, and seems ready to hang with the big boys in the 100-point club this season. While his numbers thus far have been marred by injury and a team with very few offensive weapons to help him out, the Islanders of 2014-15 boast a much deeper chest of toys with which Tavares can play.

With some other offensive options to both feed off of and distract opposing defenders, Tavares should be able to break out this season and make a serious run at his first Art Ross.

It may seem a bit premature, considering his highest total thus far was an 81-point season in 2011-12, but don’t forget this is a player who dominated so handily in his youth that the OHL had to create a new rule to allow him to be drafted into the major junior league at a younger age than any other player in history (14 years old). He’s got the goods, he just needs to put it all together – and a revamped Islanders squad could be just what he needs to do that this year.

Jan 4, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) and center Tyler Seguin (91) wait for play to begin against the Detroit Red Wings during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Red Wings defeated the Stars 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

5. Tyler Seguin

It has been a fair while since we’ve seen a player’s career ramp up as dramatically as Tyler Seguin‘s seems to every year. After putting up 22 points in his rookie year (on a deep Boston Bruins squad that gave him limited opportunities), Seguin proceeded to triple that number the following season with a 67 point performance.

Though he played at a similar pace during the lockout year, the Bruins shipped Seguin off to Dallas (perhaps the most misguided trade of this decade), allowing the talented, young forward to return to his natural position of centre, partner with powerhouse scorer Jamie Benn, and put up a monster 84-point season in his first year wearing green and white.

At only 22 years old, the ceiling is limitless for this kid. He’s got quick feet, fantastic hands, a dangerous shot, and seems to get noticeably stronger and faster every summer. As Seguin’s and Benn’s chemistry continues to develop, alongside an offense that has seen a dramatic upgrade this summer in the form of Jason Spezza and Ales Hemsky, Seguin could be set to surprise the NHL with a coup for the scoring crown.