Two weeks ago, ESPN named their top 25 athletes of the 21st century. Unsurprisingly, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was named the best hockey player of the century, ranking 22nd overall.
Crosby was one of three NHL stars to make the list, along with Alex Ovechkin (No. 54) and Connor McDavid (No. 98).
Now, ESPN is back with their list of the top 25 NHL players of the 21st century, and Crosby maintained his top spot, coming in at No. 1, ahead of Ovechkin (No. 2) and McDavid (No. 3).
However, several other Penguins are on the list, while a couple of players made stops in Steel City at one point during their careers. Here’s a rundown of Pittsburgh connections on the ESPN list:
Sidney Crosby No. 1
Crosby has a resume worthy of a Hall of Fame induction today. Whether winning scoring titles, league MVPs, or the Stanley Cup, his legacy extends beyond NHL arenas. He’s one of the best players in Team Canada history, with one of the most iconic Golden Goals ever.
Evgeni Malkin No. 9
Outside of Sergei Federov changing the game upon his arrival in the NHL and Ovechkin’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record, there’s an argument to be that besides those two, Evgeni Malkin could be the greatest Russian NHL player. Like Crosby, his trophy case is loaded with awards, and he has earned his place as one of the top four players in the Penguins’ history.
Erik Karlsson No. 16
WE HAVE BIG TRADE NEWS TO ANNOUNCE 🚨
The Penguins have acquired defenseman Erik Karlsson, forward Rem Pitlick, forward Dillon Hamaliuk and a 2026 third-round draft pick in a three-team trade involving the San Jose Sharks and Montreal Canadiens.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) August 6, 2023
Erik Karlsson’s best campaigns came before his time with the Penguins, having joined the organization in the summer of 2023. However, he’s one of just 13 players to win the Norris Trophy more than once and is just one of six defensemen to record 100 points in a single season. At 34, he’s still chasing his first Stanley Cup, which would cement his legacy as an all-time great.
Marc-Andre Fleury No. 18
Marc-Andre Fleury was the Penguins’ top draft pick (first overall) in 2003. He led the team to three Stanley Cup titles before relocating to Vegas in the expansion draft. As one of only four netminders to appear in 1,000 games and win 500 games, he’s another first-ballot Hall of Famer with a Vezina Trophy on his mantle.
Jarome Iginla No. 20
Jarome Iginla scored 625 goals and netted 1,300 points while spending most of his career with the Calgary Flames. However, when the team traded him, his first stop was with the Penguins, and he helped the team reach the 2013 Eastern Conference Final.
Here is the list for those interested in seeing who the other 20 skaters are on the ESPN top 25. Do you agree with their selections? Let us know.
