Arr, ye scallywags! Them penguins be makin' history with their band o' three! 18th season sailin' strong!
2023-10-11
Avast ye, mateys! Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, and Evgeni Malkin be makin' history like true scallywags! They be settin' a record fer the most seasons sailin' together as a fearsome trio, startin' their 18th voyage as shipmates on Tuesday. Arrr!
In the language of a 17th century pirate, there be a whole generation of Pittsburgh Penguins fans who only know one era of black-and-yellow hockey. Arr! On Tuesday night, Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, and Evgeni Malkin took to the ice to commence their 18th season together as shipmates. Not only be that the most seasons by any trio in NHL history, but it now be the longest time that three shipmates have sailed together in the four North American big leagues. Yo ho ho!Before the Penguins trio, the record belonged to three members of the New York Yankees' "Core Four" – Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Jorge Posada – who spent 17 seasons together in navy blue pinstripes. But let's not forget Andy Pettitte, who briefly strayed to the Houston Astros before retiring from the big leagues. Ahoy!
Back in 2005, Sidney Crosby was the first overall pick in the NHL Draft and wasted no time, making his NHL debut and scoring his first point in that very game. Crosby has certainly lived up to the hype, with numerous All-Star appearances, two Hart Trophy wins, and being named to the All-Decade first team for the 2010s. Shiver me timbers!
Malkin, drafted second overall in 2004, joined the crew two years later. He has won the Hart Trophy and has been an All-Star seven times. Then we have Letang, a six-time All-Star, who was chosen 62nd overall in the same year as Crosby. Avast!
During their 18th season, the Penguins trio faced off against a young buccaneer named Connor Bedard, who was making his NHL debut. Bedard, the first overall pick in this year's NHL Draft, has been compared to his childhood hero, Sidney Crosby. Just like Crosby, Bedard recorded an assist in his debut. What a coincidence! Bedard was but a wee babe of 20 days old when Crosby played his first NHL game. Blow me down!
Although the Penguins trio have won three Stanley Cups together, including consecutive titles in 2016 and 2017, their 18th season began with a loss to Bedard's Chicago Blackhawks. Arr, a disappointing start indeed!