The annual NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA) poll was released Tuesday morning, and Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was once again shown to be held in high regard by his peers.
Featuring participation of 663 players, Crosby, for the sixth straight season, earned the most votes for most complete player (33.81%), with the Florida Panthers’ Aleksander Barkov placing second (30.95%).
With one game to play in the regular season, Crosby leads the Penguins in points (89) and assists (57) while contributing 32 goals.
In the NHL, Crosby ranks 12th in points and ninth in even-strength points (63).
Crosby, who earlier this year became the NHL’s all-time leader in faceoff wins, was also voted as the player most capable of winning a draw, garnering 20.39% of votes. Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators, who ranks fifth on the all-time faceoff wins list and edged Crosby for first place last season, was next (9.95%).
Additionally, the 37-year-old Crosby beat Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning for smartest overall player in the league.
Crosby took first place with 27.02% of votes, with Kucherov earning 24.71%.
In the category of best playmaker, Crosby finished fifth, behind Kucherov, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Artemi Panarin.
Crosby also received votes (placing fourth) for best overall forward in the NHL, along with McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Kucherov and Kirill Kaprizov.
The only other Penguin to garner votes on the player poll’s list of 12 question was Kevin Hayes, who earned first place (4.85%) among respondents when asked, ‘Who would be a good broadcaster once they retire?’
The Penguins, who have been eliminated from playoff contention for the third straight year, complete the regular season Thursday night at home vs. the Washington Capitals.
