For the 10th time in his career, 36-year-old center Sidney Crosby has been named to the NHL All-Star Game.
With the announcement, Crosby surpassed Penguins legend Jaromir Jagr (9) for the second-most All-Star selections in franchise history, trailing only Mario Lemieux (13).
The call came as no surprise given his 41 points in 39 games, including an impressive 22 tallies, eighth in the NHL. His 16 even-strength goals rank third in the league, as do his 14 goals on the road.
He's also been a faceoff beast this season, taking 815 draws and winning 495 of them, both tops in the league. His 60.7 per cent success rate would blow his previous career-high of 55.9 per cent out of the water.
Even in his late 30s, Crosby has once again thrust himself into the Hart Trophy conversation with his elite all-around game.
Just as he did last season, Crosby has almost single-handedly kept the Penguins' playoff aspirations afloat with his consistent play and leadership.
It isn’t lost on Crosby that every point matters right now. His play as of late is evidence.
In December, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas said his moves nearing the trade deadline would be based on his team’s performance between then and the NHL All-Star break. Since then, the Penguins have gone 9-3-1.
If Crosby can drag the Penguins to a playoff berth, he’ll have a more than convincing Hart Trophy case.
Guentzel Awaits Your Vote: Last Chance for NHL All-Star Spot
While Crosby and 31 others have been pre-selected for the All-Star Weekend in Toronto Feb. 1-3, the NHL has brought back the Fan Vote to determine the remaining 12 All-Star positions.
Winger Jake Guentzel is the Penguins' leading scorer (44 points) and their best candidate to be voted into the game.
Guentzel is a two-time All-Star (2020, 2022) and is deserving of another nod this year.
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Many outside the Pittsburgh fandom will claim Guentzel's numbers come on the back of Crosby's elite play, but his 16 goals and 24 assists in 38 career games without Crosby, per StatMuse, say otherwise.
Guenztel ranks third in the league for expected goals, according to MoneyPuck. Crosby ranks eighth. By all accounts, Guentzel is an analytics darling.
While Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson are all having inconsistent or regressive seasons, Guentzel has been a beacon in Pittsburgh with his shining play.
Online voting is open one more day and closes at 11:59 p.m. EST. There is also an X (formerly Twitter) vote for the second straight year, where fans must include the complete hashtag “#NHLAllStarVote" along with a player’s full name, their X handle, or by tagging their X handle.