Penguins A to Z: Sidney Crosby is still the NHL's best player (when healthy)

While the NHL is on hold because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Tribune-Review will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 48 individuals under NHL contract with the organization, from mid-level prospect Niclas Almari to high-profile trade acquisition Jason Zucker.

Sidney Crosby

Position: Center

Shoots: Left

Age: 33

Height: 5-foot-11

Weight: 200 pounds

2019-20 NHL statistics: 41 games, 47 points (16 goals, 31 assists)

Contract: Eighth year of a 12-year contract with a salary cap hit of $8.7 million. Pending unrestricted free agent in 2025

Acquired: First-round draft pick (No. 1 overall), July 30, 2005

Last season: Throughout his non-pareil career, Crosby has dealt with significant ailments, most notably the concussion and neck issues that sidelined him for the better part of two seasons in the early 2010s and put his career in doubt.

And in 2013, he suffered a gruesome injury when a deflected slap shot struck him in the face, breaking his jaw.

In other instances, some of his maladies were almost comical, such as when he contracted mumps in 2014 and the Penguins offered mixed messages as to whether he had it or not despite his swollen face suggesting he indeed had it.

So on the surface, a core muscle injury is a relatively ho-hum entry on Crosby’s medical chart.

But it certainly was pertinent last season as Crosby missed 28 games throughout November, December and January because of the injury that originated from the preseason. Crosby largely played the first month and half of the 2019-20 campaign while powering through considerable discomfort until he reached a breaking point in mid-November.

Once he returned in mid-January, Crosby showed he was more than capable of maintaining his considerable standards, producing 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in 24 games before the NHL halted play in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

When the league resumed operations in mid-July with training camps for a postseason tournament beginning in August, Crosby seemed primed to lead his team on a legit run to another Stanley Cup championship. But an undisclosed injury, believed to be a “lower-body” ailment, sidelined Crosby for the bulk of camp, preventing him from refining his game heading into a preliminary round matchup with the Montreal Canadiens.

Whatever ailment hindered Crosby throughout camp wasn’t visibly evident during the Penguins all-too-brief postseason run. He was actually the team’s leading scorer with a mere three points (two goals, one assist) in the four games it took the Canadiens to upset the Penguins.

In late August, Crosby underwent arthroscopic wrist debridement surgery and, by all accounts, has made a complete recovery.

The future: It’s probably foolish to bet against Crosby in the face of any impediment. But even he can’t dodge the realities of being in his mid-30s.

When healthy, he’s still the best overall player in the NHL. His devotion to rounding out the relatively few rough edges of his spectacular skill set allows him to claim that designation.

But given how many injuries he has endured, it is fair to wonder if he is on the downslope of his career, even if it’s a very slow descent from a towering peak.

There is probably no one more furious with the fact Crosby has played only four games of consequence over the past nine months than Crosby himself. He is just as obsessed with the sport as he was when he arrived in Pittsburgh a decade and a half ago. That part of him hasn’t waned.

At the same time, given the wear and tear he has accrued over his outstanding career, some downtime might not be the worst thing for his body.

Assuming the NHL resumes next month, a refreshed and healthy Crosby still can be the NHL’s best.

Follow the Penguins all season long.