Ranking Crosby's Performance Against Former First Overall Picks

Ryan Gagne

Apr 6, 2025

Partner

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Ryan Gagne

Apr 6, 2025

Partner

Sidney Crosby & Connor Bedard - Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was the first overall pick in the 2005 Entry Draft. With 1,682 points, he's the second-highest scoring first-overall pick in NHL history, trailing his former teammate Mario Lemieux, who ended his Hall of Fame career with 1,723.

There have been 61 first-overall picks ahead of the 2025 Draft, and Crosby has played against 37, and he's shared the ice with 38 overall when you include Lemieux, his teammate in 2005-06. This accounts for 62.2% of all top picks, which speaks to his longevity in the NHL.

After debuting in 2005, Crosby has skated against every first-overall pick from the 1987 Draft (Pierre Turgeon) to the 2024 Draft (Macklin Celebrini). Moreover, he was linemates with Lemieux, the top pick in 1984.

Crosby has collected 744 points in games against former first-overall picks, equaling 44.2% of his career totals. His opponents in those games have only 515, a difference of 229 points when top picks go head-to-head.

Meanwhile, Crosby has skated against Alexis Lafreniere (2020), John Tavares (2009), Steven Stamkos (2008), Alex Ovechkin (2004), Rick Nash (2002), Chris Phillips (1996), and Roman Hamrlik (1992) in the playoffs.

Sidney Crosby & Joe Thornton - Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Even though he's faced Ovechkin and Philips multiple times in the postseason, Crosby has only played one former first-overall pick in the Stanley Cup Final, Joe Thornton (1997), in 2016.

As the Penguins begin a home-and-home series with Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks, here's a look at Crosby's performances head-to-head against former NHL picks.

These statistics were obtained from Stathead by Hockey Reference and are sorted by games played, goals, assists, and points. Rankings are by the smallest to largest point differences.

Players Who've Outscored Crosby

Crosby vs. Alexandre Daigle (1993)

Crosby: 1GP 0-0-0

Daigle: 1GP 2-0-2

Crosby vs. Mats Sundin (1989)

Crosby: 12GP 6-13-19

Sundin: 12GP 6-15-21

Crosby vs. Nico Hischier (2017)

Crosby: 22GP 9-9-18

Hischier: 22GP 9-14-23

The Pittsburgh Penguins are winding down their 2024-25 season and on pace to miss the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third consecutive season, a first in Sidney Crosby's 20-year career. However, there is plenty to play for in the final weeks of the regular season.

thehockeynews.comPittsburgh Penguins Schedule: Remaining Games & Statistical NotesThe Pittsburgh Penguins are winding down their 2024-25 season and on pace to miss the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third consecutive season, a first in Sidney Crosby's 20-year career. However, there is plenty to play for in the final weeks of the regular season. 

Crosby vs. Joe Thornton (1997)

Crosby: 18GP 4-11-15

Thornton: 18GP 7-13-20

Crosby vs. Patrick Kane (2007)

Crosby: 21GP 4-16-20

Kane: 21GP 8-18-26

Crosby vs. Nathan MacKinnon (2013)

Crosby: 19GP 9-7-16

MacKinnon: 19GP 8-17-25

Crosby vs. Connor McDavid (2015)

Crosby: 15GP 4-6-10

McDavid: 15GP 9-21-30

Players Tied With Crosby

Crosby vs. Brian Berard (1995)

Crosby: 3GP 0-1-1

Bedard: 3GP 0-1-1

Crosby vs. Jack Hughes (2019)

Crosby: 20GP 8-12-20

Hughes: 20 GP 10-10-20

Players Crosby Has Outscored

Crosby vs. Pierre Turgeon (1987)

Crosby: 1GP 0-1-1

Turgeon: 1GP 0-0-0

Crosby vs. Macklin Celebrini (2024)

Crosby: 2GP 2-0-2

Celebrini: 2GP 1-0-1

Crosby vs. Connor Bedard (2023)

Crosby: 2GP 3-0-3

Bedard: 2GP 2-0-2

Crosby vs. Eric Lindros (1991)

Crosby: 1GP 0-2-2

Lindros: 1GP 0-0-0

Sidney Crosby & Auston Matthews - Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Crosby vs. Auston Matthews (2016)

Crosby: 19GP 7-14-21

Matthews: 19GP 7-12-19

Crosby vs. Patrik Stefan (1999)

Crosby: 4GP 0-7-7

Stefan: 4GP 2-2-4

Crosby vs. Vincent Lecavalier (1998)

Crosby: 28GP 8-16-24

Lecavalier: 28GP 10-11-21

Crosby vs. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2011)

Crosby: 21GP 6-15-21

McDavid: 21GP 7-10-17

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby recorded his 17th career hat trick on Saturday afternoon against the Dallas Stars.

thehockeynews.comPenguins' Crosby Becomes 19th NHL Player To Record Multiple Hat Tricks After Age 36Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby recorded his 17th career hat trick on Saturday afternoon against the Dallas Stars.

Crosby vs. Owen Power (2021)

Crosby: 9GP 5-4-9

Power: 9GP 1-3-4

Crosby vs. Mike Modano (1988)

Crosby: 2GP 4-1-5

Modano: 2GP 0-0-0

Crosby vs. Ed Jovanovski (1994)

Crosby: 6GP 2-6-8

Jovanovski: 6GP 1-1-2

Crosby vs. Owen Nolan (1990)

Crosby: 5GP 3-4-7

Nolan: 5GP 0-1-1

Crosby vs. Juraj Slafkovsky (2022)

Crosby: 7GP 4-6-10

Slafkovsky: 7GP 2-1-3

Crosby vs. Erik Johnson (2006)

Crosby: 16GP 7-5-12

Johnson: 16GP 3-2-5

Crosby vs. Roman Hamrlik (1992)

Crosby: 13GP 8-7-15

Hamrlik: 13GP 3-4-7

Crosby vs. Taylor Hall (2010)

Crosby: 26GP 13-21-34

Hall: 26GP 9-16-25

Crosby vs. Marc-Andre Fleury (2003)

Crosby: 8GP 4-5-9

Crosby vs. Steven Stamkos (2008)

Crosby: 35GP 21-30-51

Stamkos: 35GP 19-22-41

Crosby vs. Ilya Kovalchuk (2001)

Crosby: 27GP 12-25-37

Kovalchuk: 12-15-27

Following the team's regular practice on Dec. 16, Pittsburgh Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby took some extra time out of his day to do something pretty much everyone around him is accustomed to witnessing on a day-to-day basis.

thehockeynews.com'When He Speaks, Everyone Listens': How Sidney Crosby's Mentorship Has Passed On To Multiple Generations Of TeammatesFollowing the team's regular practice on Dec. 16, Pittsburgh Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby took some extra time out of his day to do something pretty much everyone around him is accustomed to witnessing on a day-to-day basis.

Crosby vs. Nail Yakupov (2001)

Crosby: 8GP 4-9-13

Yakupov: 8GP 0-2-2

Crosby vs. Alexis Lafreniere (2020)

Crosby: 21GP 7-13-20

Lafreniere: 21GP 4-4-8

Crosby vs. Rick Nash (2002)

Crosby: 25GP 12-19-31

Nash: 25GP 12-7-19

Crosby vs. Rasmus Dahlin (2018)

Crosby: 25GP 11-18-29

Dahlin: 25GP 4-10-14

Crosby vs. Chris Phillips (1996)

Crosby: 26GP 6-20-26

Phillips: 26GP 5-3-8

Crosby vs. Aaron Ekblad (2014)

Crosby: 24GP 14-19-33

Ekblad: 24GP 5-8-13

Crosby vs. Rick DiPietro (2000)

Crosby: 16GP 7-17-24

Sidney Crosby & Alex Ovechkin - Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin (2004)

Crosby: 72GP 32-61-93

Ovechkin: 72GP 37-30-67

Crosby vs. John Tavares (2009)

Crosby: 51GP 26-52-78

Tavares: 51GP 13-24-37

After 20 years in the making, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has made NHL history.

thehockeynews.comBREAKING: Sidney Crosby Breaks Wayne Gretzky's Point-Per-Game Seasons RecordAfter 20 years in the making, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has made NHL history.

Players