Penguins' Sidney Crosby defying aging curve and still playing at MVP level

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby put on another show on Thursday night in a 6-5 win over the Boston Bruins, scoring the game-winning goal, adding two assists and helping to close out the game with a high-effort play to negate a potential icing call. It was the type of all-around dominance that has made him one of the NHL's legendary players and should still have him in MVP discussions this season. 

What makes games like that -- and his overall performance this season -- so spectacular is that it is almost unheard of for a player his age to play like that. The 36-year-old Crosby is showing no real signs of slowing down and is still one of the best all-around players in hockey. After Thursday's win, he is now up to 22 goals and 41 total points in 37 games, putting him on pace for 48 goals and 90 points over an 82-game season. 

Those would be sensational numbers for any player at any age. But for a player getting into his late 30s, they are downright shocking.

Via the Hockey-Reference StatHead database, there have only been two players in league history to score at least 45 goals and 90 points in a single season after celebrating their 36th birthday.

Alex Ovechkin did it (age 36) for the Washington Capitals during the 2021-22 season when he scored 50 goals and 90 points.

Teemu Selanne did it (also at age 36) with 48 goals and 94 points for the Anaheim Ducks during the 2006-07 season.

That is it. Crosby is currently on pace to join them if he is able to play in enough games and maintain his current scoring rates. Players at this age -- even the great ones -- are not supposed to keep scoring at these levels. They almost always slow down at a certain point. It is not happening with Crosby. At least not yet. In some areas, he has actually produced as well as he ever has. His 0.59 goals per game average this season would be tied for the third-highest mark of his career, and his 3.43 shots on goal per game would also be the third-highest total of his career. 

His performance becomes even more impactful when you take into account his play without the puck as he has also evolved into an outstanding defensive player. 

The Penguins roster is not as deep or talented around him as it has been in the past, so they are not a guarantee to make the playoffs this season. Crosby is doing everything in his power to help drag them to a playoff spot. If they get in it will be almost entirely by his doing and should at least put him into MVP discussion.