Through four games, Sidney Crosby’s start has looked nothing like the steady, relentless production Penguins fans have come to expect. The captain has no goals, only two assists, and a minus-3 rating. Over the last two games - both losses - he hasn’t recorded a point at all and has slid to minus-5.
What stands out even more is how quiet he’s been. For a player who has spent so much of his career dictating everything around him, Crosby has been far less noticeable than usual. That’s not the kind of thing anyone is used to saying about arguably the finest all-around player in the history of the game.
There are still signs that parts of his game remain intact. Crosby has won more than 55 percent of his faceoffs, and his 12 shots on goal are tied with Kris Letang for the team lead.
He is still helping drive play, even if the puck hasn’t been going in. So this is not a case of a star disappearing completely.
The circumstances around him haven’t exactly been ideal, either. Nick Robertson and Hendrix Lapierre have been rotating through his line, and he also had a short training camp and preseason to work with before the season began.
Even with those caveats, the concern lingers. At 39, the question is whether Father Time is starting to close in on No. 87.
The decline, at least from one perspective, seemed to begin earlier in 2026 during the run-up to the Olympics. In the six games before the break, Crosby managed only two assists and finished minus-4.
At some point during that stretch - or just before it - he took a hit from an opposing defenseman and ended up with the player on top of him. He skated to the bench gingerly, and the image stuck.
There has been nothing to indicate Crosby was seriously hurt by that play. But since then, his scoring has dropped off sharply, especially when it comes to putting the puck in the net.
Over his last 22 regular-season games, he has only two goals and 19 points, and his shooting percentage in that span sits at 3.7 percent.
The knee injury he suffered during the Olympics on a Radko Gudas hit almost certainly played a role. And, of course, even the most reliable players go through ups and downs.
Still, this doesn’t look like the Crosby fans are used to seeing.
It brings to mind what happened to Jeff Carter, who essentially faded away halfway through his age 38 season and quickly became a stripped-down version of himself. Even Mario Lemieux, with all those gifts, eventually reached the finish line, though the thought here is that Mario could still run a power play at 61.
So the question hangs there: is Crosby beginning to enter the final stretch of a brilliant career?
It’s not a thought anyone wants to sit with for long.
In Other News...
Penguins Fought Back But One Familiar Problem Ruined It
Bryan Rust gave the Penguins enough offense to hang around at Nationwide Arena, scoring twice in regulation as Pittsburgh battled Columbus into overtime. For a night that could have slipped away early, the Penguins found a response and a path to at least a point, with the game tightening around a young lineup trying to sort out the details on the road.
Sergei Murashov was a huge part of that fight, turning aside 43 of 45 shots and making several important stops in overtime to give Pittsburgh every chance to steal it. But once the game got to the skills competition, the familiar issue surfaced again, and the Penguins could not cash in on their chances while the Blue Jackets did just enough to take the 3-2 decision. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Have A Sidney Crosby Problem They Can't Ignore
Sidney Crosbys start to the season has been quieter than the Penguins would like, and it has only added to the unease around a stretch that has now carried over from late last season. Pittsburgh has been cycling through different line combinations in an effort to spark him, a reminder that even with a player of Crosbys stature, finding the right chemistry can still be a moving target.
The concern is not just about one slow opening, but about how long this has been building for the Penguins captain. He has struggled to consistently finish chances for months, and the team is clearly looking for familiar faces to help settle things down. A reunion with Bryan Rust on his wing could be one of the cleaner fixes available, but the Penguins still have to see whether the answer is as simple as putting Crosby back with the players who know his game best. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Dumba's Retirement Ends A Wild Era Fans Won't Forget
Matt Dumbas NHL run came to an end after 13 seasons, closing out a career that took him from Minnesota to Arizona, Tampa Bay, Dallas and, most recently, Pittsburgh. The veteran defenseman arrived as a high-end draft pick and spent years carving out a reputation as a physical, versatile blue-liner who could chip in offense, finishing his time in the league with 85 goals and 261 points.
For Penguins fans, theres a brief final chapter attached to the larger story: Dumba was part of the organization last season, and his stop in Pittsburgh fit the kind of winding late-career path that often defines a players final NHL stretch. His retirement leaves one more familiar name from a busy era out of the league, and for a team that has leaned on turnover in recent seasons, its another reminder of how quickly those roster threads can disappear. [Read more 🡒]