Those of you who are fans of Saturday Night Live will be familiar with cast member Kenan Thompson and his frequent proclamations in sketches, "What's up with that?"

Well, that question could certainly be applied to the NHL's hand-pass rule after Thursday night's game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Lightning tied to score late in the game, only to have Nikita Kucherov's goal called back by the NHL's Situation Room in Toronto, which declared that Brandon Hagel was guilty of directing the puck to Jake Guentzel with a hand pass leading to the goal. Tampa Bay lost 4-3.

Hagel was actually putting his glove up to keep from losing a couple of teeth, and there was nothing deliberate about it. But what matters under Rule 79 of the NHL rulebook is whether the player stopped or "batted" a puck in the air with his hand and, in the opinion of the officials, directed the puck to a teammate or gave his team gain an advantage. The same wording applies in international hockey.

Jon Cooper and the Lightning found Nikita Kucherov’s overturned goal “laughable” after it was ruled that Brandon Hagel used his hand to pass the puck on the same play.

Did the officials make the right call, or is Cooper speaking the truth? ⤵️

(🎥: @nhl, @jayrecher) pic.twitter.com/qFZFAxYSxA

— BarDown (@BarDown) December 5, 2025

So you can be that when the GMs next hold their meetings, this is something that will be discussed. Don't be surprised if the rule is tweaked in time for next season.  

Watch today's video column up above for more.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward Joona Koppanen on NHL waivers, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The Florida Panthers also placed Anton Lundmark on unconditional waivers for the purpose of contract termination, Friedman reported. 

Koppanen has played in 10 games this season with Pittsburgh, recording one assist, two penalty minutes, four blocks, nine hits and a minus-1 rating. Last season, he had one goal and 40 hits in 11 games for Pittsburgh.

If Koppanen passes through waivers unclaimed on Saturday, Pittsburgh can assign him back to its AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

In six games this season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Koppanen has one goal and one assist. 

Lundmark, on the other hand, has zero points, four penalty minutes, and a minus-2 rating in nine games this season with the Charlotte Checkers. The 6-foot-4 right winger's most recent appearance with the AHL squad was on Nov. 28 against the Toronto Marlies. 

Lundmark signed a one-year, $975,000 entry-level contract with the Panthers back in April. This was after he posted five goals, four assists, nine points and a plus-2 rating in 49 games with Timra of the Swedish League last season.

"Anton is a robust forward who has elevated his game rising through the professional hockey ranks in Sweden," Panthers GM Bill Zito said at the time of the signing. "We look forward to his continued development in our organization."

Assuming Lundmark, 24, clears waivers, the Panthers will terminate his contract, and he will become a UFA who can continue his development in the Swedish League if he wishes.

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The Vancouver Canucks becoming sellers in the trade market has made them the dominant club in the rumor mill.

It's also made UFA-eligible left winger Kiefer Sherwood a popular target in an otherwise thin trade market thus far.

Quinn Hughes was not considered to be among the Canucks' trade candidates. However, the uncertainty over whether he'll sign a contract extension has raised questions about the 26-year-old superstar defenseman's future in Vancouver. That's generating conjecture about potential trade destinations for the 2023-24 Norris Trophy winner.

The Hockey News' Adam Kierszenblat doesn't think the Canucks should be in a win-now mode this season. That means he thinks the Canucks' brass should sit down with Hughes to discuss his future and whether he would want to play through a retool or rebuild.

If the Canucks peddle Hughes, Kierszenblat believes the Canucks should focus on acquiring prospects and picks over established NHL players.

Ben Kuzma of The Province, meanwhile, believes they'll seek a multi-player return that helps them get younger and eventually better.

Kuzma felt that interested clubs would want assurances that Hughes wouldn't be a one-year rental. He suggested ties to certain teams could determine where he lands, proposing the Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers as destinations.

Hughes spent his formative hockey years in Michigan with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program and the NCAA Wolverines. His brothers, Jack and Luke, play for the Devils. Meanwhile, former Canucks coach Rick Tocchet is now the Flyers' bench boss.

Kuzma speculated that the Canucks could seek a return of winger Lucas Raymond, rookies Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Nate Danielson, and a 2026 first-round pick from the Red Wings.

Daily Faceoff's Anthony Di Marco thinks the Canucks would want winger Tyson Foerster and prospect Porter Martone as part of the return from the Flyers. However, they might prefer sending a package to Vancouver centered around a defenseman such as Jamie Drysdale or Cam York.

The asking price from the Devils could include promising defenseman Simon Nemec. Center Dawson Mercer or rookie winger Arseny Gritsyuk could also be part of the deal.

The Red Wings, Devils and Flyers could be reluctant to gut their rosters for Hughes, but interested clubs should be prepared to pay a high price for a superstar of his caliber.

‘I Just Think Losing Is Obviously The Hardest Part’: Quinn Hughes Speaks On The Canucks’ Recent StrugglesCanucks captain Quinn Hughes spoke on the team's recent struggles after dropping their past three games.

Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers' goaltending remains a topic of interest in the rumor mill. Some of the recent talk linked them to Tristan Jarry of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Earlier this week, NHL.com's Dan Rosen was asked what level of interest the Oilers had in Jarry. He pointed out that they know what they have with inconsistent starter Stuart Skinner, who has backstopped them to consecutive Stanley Cup finals.

Rosen didn't rule out the possibility of the Oilers seeking a replacement, but he noted that Jarry has his own inconsistency issues, plus an injury history. He felt that the only way they would make a move for Jarry is if they believe he can carry them to the Stanley Cup.

Given Jarry's career and his post-season record thus far, it's unlikely he'll replace Skinner in Edmonton.

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The Winnipeg Jets are a curious team.

While they're without star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who had knee surgery two weeks ago, this is still largely the same group that won the Presidents' Trophy last season as the NHL's top regular-season team.

And yet, after they lost to the Montreal Canadiens in a shootout Wednesday night, the Jets have gone 2-5-1 after Hellebuyck last played on Nov. 15. Their .313 points percentage in that span is tied for last in the league.

This speaks to Hellebuyck's immense value to the Jets – he is the defending Hart Trophy winner, after all. But scratch beneath the surface, and you'll see that there are clearly multiple other issues that are plaguing Winnipeg right now.

Yes, the Jets have allowed the 11th-most goals against per game during Hellebuyck's absence, while they conceded the eighth-fewest goals per game beforehand. Goalie Eric Comrie has a .891 save percentage and 3.14 goals-against average in seven starts, while Thomas Milic has an .882 SP and 3.65 GAA in two appearances.

But they also have the seventh-worst offense in the NHL since Nov. 16 at 2.50 goals-for per game. And their special teams have also been a problem in that span. Their 15-percent power-play success rate and 78.9-percent penalty-kill rate each rank tied for 20th.

Hellebuyck's injury is projected to keep him on the sidelines until late December or early January. Winnipeg is only two points out of a playoff spot with two games in hand. But this team has too much talent, even without Hellebuyck, to be in this predicament.

Free-Falling Jets Take Just Three of a Possible 10 Points on Lengthy Road TripJets stumble on another lengthy road trip, snagging minimal points. Can a crucial home stretch spark a turnaround for the struggling team?

The Jets' next stretch includes games against the desperate Buffalo Sabres, Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, Ottawa Senators, St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche. That won't be a cakewalk by any means, with the Avs, Stars and Caps sitting in the top three of the standings.

In the highly competitive Central Division, Winnipeg's challenge is considerable and constant. They need to be consistent in a way they haven't been since they came out of the gate 9-3-0. Even a .500 points percentage stretch likely won't push them back to the top of the division.

Some of their challenge falls at the feet of the Jets' secondary scorers.

Only four forwards have at least 0.50 points per game – Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Gabriel Vilardi and Nino Niederreiter – and they need much more production out of players beyond their top line. Veteran center Jonathan Toews is a high-profile addition to the Jets, but the 37-year-old has three goals and nine points in 26 games. 

Winnipeg wants more out of the second-line center spot they signed Toews to occupy, but he's been out of the league for two seasons before making his comeback this year.

Clearly, they need more out of their bottom six forwards and from their defensemen other than star Josh Morrissey.

The Jets have $4.28 million in salary cap space – which is projected to balloon to $13.6 million at the March 6 trade deadline. But if they wait too long to spend that cap space, Winnipeg could be stuck closer to the bottom of the Central standings. So Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has to balance his longer-term needs with his immediate goals.

In any case, Winnipeg's focus has to be on either ratcheting up its defensive game without Hellebuyck or getting out of this scoring slump. All NHL teams will only do as well as they can when their key players are healthy and in the lineup, but they have enough skaters right now to get the job done.

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The Wraparound is here to discuss a new batch of NHL and hockey topics in bite-sized segments.

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Stephen Kerr discussed in this episode:

0:00: Which team in the Central Division is under the most pressure to translate their hot start into playoff success?

4:45: Can Steven Stamkos get his offense back on track in Nashville or elsewhere?

10:05: How concerning is the lack of depth scoring for the Detroit Red Wings?

13:28: How will Adam Fox's injury impact the Rangers' playoff chances?

17:41: Should the Montreal Canadiens look to make an upgrade in net?

22:40: Will Tyler Bertuzzi be a long-term fit for the Chicago Blackhawks?

25:39: Exploring potential trade partners for Quinn Hughes and the Vancouver Canucks

Should The Canadiens Find An Upgrade In Net? by The Wraparound

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Podbean

iHeartRadio

Amazon

The NHL's had an excellent Calder Trophy race to start the year.

The top rookies are incredibly effective for their teams, helping them to much-improved results. Even beyond the top rookies, some strong performers would usually be at the top of the rookie race in most other years. 

The favorites coming into the year – Ivan Demidov and Matthew Schaefer – are still right up there at the top of the race. Beckett Sennecke joined them, but some netminders also entered the conversation with outstanding performances.

Let's check in on the NHL's top rookies as we approach the holiday season, because we are starting to get a clearer picture of how effective each of them has been for their respective squads.

1. Matthew Schaefer, D, New York Islanders

The Islanders' first overall pick has been nothing short of exceptional to start his NHL career. His eight goals are tied for the most among rookies, and combined with his 11 assists, he's one point behind Demidov and Sennecke for the rookie points lead.

The way that 18-year-old Schaefer dictates the play, pushes the pace and consistently brings life to the Islanders' attack is truly game-changing. 

Defensively, Schaefer has been better than just about any rookie D-man in recent memory.

His skating allows him to get into position defensively or recover when he decides to pinch and join the attack. His underlying numbers are stellar for any defender, let alone a first-year player.

There is legitimate conversation about him getting into the Norris Trophy conversation, so he's sure to stay atop the Calder race if he keeps this up.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 1.42/-238

2. Ivan Demidov, RW, Montreal Canadiens

It's quite impressive that Demidov isn't the top rookie at the moment. His season has been nothing short of outstanding.

He's tied for the rookie lead in points in one fewer game played, and he's doing so as the offensive catalyst on the second line for the Montreal Canadiens, primarily playing away from top players Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. Demidov has been making magic with fellow rookie Oliver Kapanen, Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook throughout the season. 

Demidov might be the most purely skilled rookie in the class. His puckhandling and playmaking have come as advertised, and he shows a much more consistent effort in all three zones than most rookies.

The 19-year-old has been the kind of offensive catalyst Montreal has needed for years. His continued growth throughout the season will keep him right near the top of this list all year.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 4.60/+360

3. Beckett Sennecke, RW, Anaheim Ducks

The NHL's other rookie scoring leader, with 20 points, has been better than advertised for the Anaheim Ducks. He's a big reason they're not just in a playoff spot but leading the Pacific Division.

Sennecke has added additional offensive depth, with high-end skill and an excellent dual-threat offensive game.

The 19-year-old has been a breath of fresh air, bringing some high-end puckhandling and dangles to a team built on playing hard, heavy hockey. If he continues to lead all rookies in scoring, it's going to be hard not to have him near the top of the Calder list.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 17.00/+1600

4. Jesper Wallstedt, G, Minnesota Wild

With the opportunity to play in the NHL full-time this season, the 'Wall of St. Paul' has had some incredible performances as the Wild's backup to Filip Gustavsson.

In 10 games, he has eight wins and four shutouts. His two losses came in overtime.

Wallstedt, 23, has a .944 save percentage, which leads NHL goalies who played at least 10 games. If he gets a bit more of the start split with Gustavsson, he could find his way up the list because he's been unbeatable over the last month.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 8.00/+700

5. Alexander Nikishin, D, Carolina Hurricanes

The unfortunate thing about the Calder Trophy is that so much of the award is based on counting stats. Nikishin's impact goes far beyond that, with incredible defensive acumen and a physical edge that most rookies don't come close to bringing.

The 24-year-old Russian is one of the older rookies in the league, but he's shown exactly why he was one of the KHL's best blueliners before this season. Nikishin is undeniably one of the top rookies in the class thanks to his defensive impact, which should earn him some love in the Calder conversation, albeit likely not enough to get a finalist's nod.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 101.00/+10000

6. Yaroslav Askarov, G, San Jose Sharks

The Sharks traded for Askarov in hopes that he would become their goalie of the future. His performance this season proves just that.

Askarov plays with incredible athleticism. His ability to move around the net and read the play makes him not only effective but highly entertaining.

The 23-year-old is a bit of a throwback goalie. While his game has structure, his ability to play an unorthodox style when desperate means he is never out of the play. His .905 save percentage through 18 games is a great start to his rookie season.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 56.00/+5500

7. Ryan Leonard, RW, Washington Capitals

The drop off from the top six to the next group is steep, but Leonard's impact has been quite impressive. The 20-year-old still has his bull-in-a-china-shop style of play and a very good shot. His blend of a physical edge and nifty skill has been a welcome addition to the Capitals' forward core.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 101.00/+10000  

8. Oliver Kapanen, C, Montreal Canadiens

When Kapanen made the Canadiens' roster, he was expected to fill the role of fourth-line center. Because of injuries and strong play from Kapanen, he's played up and down the lineup.

Even before injuries hit the Habs' lineup, the Finnish center was playing as high as the second line alongside Demidov. Kapanen, 22, plays a smart, positional, two-way game, which has made it easy to trust him in just about any situation. His eight goals are tied with Schaefer for the most among rookies.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 126.00/+12500

9. Emmitt Finnie, LW, Detroit Red Wings

No one expected Finnie to make the Wings' roster, and now, he's been the team's most consistent linemate for Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond on the top line. His no-nonsense game, focused on going to the hard areas and making life easier for his teammates, has helped him succeed. He may not be putting up the kind of numbers the top rookies are, but he's finding a way to make an impact.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 151.00/+15000      

10. Matthew Wood, W/C, Nashville Predators

Wood's performances have been somewhat inconsistent, but he's been a bright spot on a dim Nashville Predators squad. His size and finishing ability are notable. His production has slowed down considerably since his hat trick in mid-November, but the flashes have been there. Wood is an excellent complementary secondary scorer, but he'll need some help from the veterans around him.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 101.00/+10000        

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The Philadelphia Flyers redeemed themselves Wednesday, trouncing the Buffalo Sabres 5-2. 

They set the stage for a statement game Sunday against the Stanley Cup favorite Colorado Avalanche, a team that (gulp) has points in 25 of its 26 games.

In their previous game, the Flyers dropped a 5-1 decision to the arch-rival Pittsburgh Penguins, a defeat made worse because they lost right winger Tyson Foerster, their co-leading goal-scorer, for two to three months because of a suspected shoulder injury.

The Sabres, however, helped cure their frustrations.

The Flyers scored three times in a 59-second span in the first period, erasing a 1-0 deficit and coasting to a win at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Buffalo has been bad forever, so this wasn't a surprising victory.

That said, the Sabres have been playing better lately – six wins in their last nine games before Wednesday. 

But Philly (15-8-3), one of the NHL's most surprising teams, couldn't afford two straight losses heading into Sunday's game against the Avs. They couldn't afford to start a tailspin that could wipe out their impressive start.

And they couldn't get into a woe-is-me feeling because of Foerster's injury.

"He's a tough guy to replace, for sure," Trevor Zegras said, "so we all have to do a little more."

Flyers Officially Decide on Tyson Foerster Injury ReplacementsThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> are set to be without top forward Tyson Foerster for at least two months, and with the injury confirmed, Foerster's two injury replacements have already been selected.

Here's the thing: even with Foerster and his 10 goals before Wednesday, the Flyers haven't been an offense juggernaut. Au contraire.

They entered the night 26th out of 32 teams, averaging just 2.76 goals-for per game.

And then five different players scored – Travis Konecny, Zegras, Bobby Brink, Noah Cates and Owen Tippett – five players contributed two points apiece, and the Flyers fired 35 shots in their league-leading 11th comeback win of the season. 

The Flyers moved up to third in the Metro, just three points behind division-leading Washington, which has played two more games.

Philadelphia scored four of its goals from the dirty areas near the net. Tim Kerr and Gary Dornhoefer would have been proud.

"It has to be habitual," said coach Rick Tocchet, who had no update on defenseman Cam York after he left the game with an unspecified injury. "You have to do it all the time."

It was good to see the offense erupt, the power play (2-for-5) click and the penalty kill go 1-for-6. 

Tocchet, who continues to push the right buttons, went back to most of the players on his original No. 1 power-play unit – Konecny, Tippett, Matvei Michkov, Zegras and Jamie Drysdale – and it paid dividends.

Now the real test comes Sunday afternoon, when the Flyers host a 19-1-6 Colorado team that is averaging 4.08 goals per game and allowing 2.04 goals. Both figures lead the league.

Some of the Flyers didn't yet want to talk about facing the Avs. Tippett wasn't one of them.

He said it was a good primer for Colorado.

"Obviously, we wanted to have a bounce back after last game, and it’s a good start," said Tippett. "Obviously, with a couple days we can fine-tune some stuff in practice, but that was a good start."

Against Colorado, the Flyers will need to be at their best just to be competitive. They can't let down for any stretch as they did for a 21-minute span Wednesday, when Buffalo outshot them 16-6 in parts of the first two periods, but goalie Sam Ersson stood tall.

It will take 60 minutes of excellence on Sunday if the Flyers want to stay in the game.

Wednesday, though not perfect, was a nice building block.

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The Vancouver Canucks' willingness to entertain trade offers for their UFA-eligible players has made Kiefer Sherwood one of the most notable names in the rumor mill.

Before this season, the 30-year-old Sherwood was a little-known checking-line forward. After spending his first six NHL seasons with the Anaheim Ducks, Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators, he enjoyed a career-best 19 goals and 21 assists for 40 points last season with the Canucks.

Sherwood currently leads the Canucks with 12 goals, putting him on pace to reach 36 goals this season. He's in the final season of a two-year contract with an affordable $1.5-million cap hit.

Given the limited number of sellers thus far, the NHL trade market is thin on quality talent. That's made Sherwood an enticing trade target for playoff contenders. While his production has cooled lately, his feisty style of play is tailor-made for the physical grind of post-season hockey.

TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported Tuesday the Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens and Dallas Stars were among a long list of teams to inquire about Sherwood. Sportsnet's Ryan Dixon looked at the impact Sherwood could have with the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders, Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reported the Columbus Blue Jackets had contacted the Canucks about Sherwood. Meanwhile, NHL.com's Dan Rosen suggested the Pittsburgh Penguins might be a good fit. The Buffalo Sabres, Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings have also surfaced as potential destinations for Sherwood.

LeBrun indicated that the Canucks aren't in any rush to move Sherwood, preferring to take their time to explore the trade market. He also wondered if any of those interested clubs would want to sign the veteran winger to a contract extension, as that would raise his trade value for the Canucks.

It's understandable why the Canucks would prefer to remain patient, as it could drive up the return for Sherwood. However, that stance also carries the risk of injury or a decline in his production.

Three Potential Trade Fits For Canucks' Kiefer SherwoodKiefer Sherwood is among the Canucks' top trade candidates, and these three teams should consider trying to acquire the hard-hitting forward.

Turning to the Islanders, they could use someone like Sherwood to offset the loss of right winger Kyle Palmieri to a season-ending knee injury. That would explain why they were mentioned among the clubs linked to the Canucks right winger.

The Hockey News' Russell Macias says the Islanders have a depth-scoring crisis. And Ethan Sears of the New York Postbelieves they could use another scoring forward and some physicality among their checking lines.

Those traits would make Sherwood an enticing option for the Isles.

Sears also felt that they must improve their defense corps, pointing out the loss of left-shot blueliner Alexander Romanov, plus they never fully replaced Noah Dobson on the right side after trading him to Montreal last summer.

However, Sears cautioned that Isles management should avoid hasty decisions that would sacrifice their future first-round picks or top prospects for a short-term replacement for Palmieri.

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The WHL witnessed NHL draft prospect Xavier Wendt score the league's first goalie goal since 2023 on Wednesday night.

With the Tri-City Americans leading the Swift Current Broncos 3-0, Wendt scored from behind his net after picking up the puck from a soft dump-in.

After cradling the puck, he fired it down the center of the ice, going through all the Broncos who were trying to swat at it. Eventually, the puck made its way to the center of the cage on the opposite side of the ice.

Wendt, 17, became the 11th goalie in WHL history to score a goal and the first since Spokane Chiefs netminder Dawson Cowan on Nov. 26, 2023. Other netminders who scored in the WHL include Olaf Kolzig, Chris Osgood, Chris Dreidger and current Edmonton Oilers starter Stuart Skinner.

Wendt's tally gave the Americans a 4-0 lead with a minute remaining.

"There's no way, a goalie goal at the Toyota Center," play-by-play announcer Craig Beauchemin said emphatically on the broadcast.

XAVIER WENDT GOALIE GOAL!!!!!!!!! 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯@TCAmericanspic.twitter.com/9pG0SezPBH

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) December 4, 2025

Aside from this remarkable goalie goal, Wendt was already having a great performance.

He stopped all 23 shots he faced in the game, recording his first career shutout in the WHL. This is also his first season in the WHL.

Wendt has played 15 WHL games, averaging a 2.39 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage.

Among WHL goaltenders who have played at least 40 percent of their team's total minutes, the rookie leads the league in save percentage and is tied for second in goals-against average.

The Plymouth, Minn., native has spent his minor hockey career at Shattuck St. Mary's prep school, which has alumni such as Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews and Zach Parise.

As a member of Shattuck's U-18 team last season, in 29 appearances in the USHS-Prep division, he dominated with a 24-0-1 record, 1.55 GAA and .932 SP.

NHL Central Scouting gave Wendt a 'W' rating for its preliminary players to watch list ahead of the 2026 NHL draft next June. That means it projects him to be drafted in the sixth or seventh round.

With that goalie goal and shutout, Wendt is certainly making a positive impression.

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The month of December has just begun, but it's already shaping up to be an incredible month for one of the most incredible NHL players of all-time – Pittsburgh Penguins icon Sidney Crosby. 

For one thing, Crosby is in the race for the Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy as the NHL's top goal-scorer. He has 18 goals in 25 games – only four goals behind the leader, Nathan MacKinnon.

He's also keeping the Penguins in the Stanley Cup playoff race, and on Monday, he scored his 299th and 300th goals on the road against the arch-rival Philadelphia Flyers. And he's now ninth in NHL history in game-winning goals, with 102.

But wait, there's more: Crosby now is sixth in NHL history for most wins with a single franchise, tying Detroit Red Wings legend Gordie Howe's 851 wins in the regular season and playoffs. And with 1,716 points, he's eight points shy of overtaking Mario Lemieux for the most points in Penguins franchise history and eighth-most in NHL history.

So this month, Crosby has already reached a road goal milestone and tied Gordie Howe in a stat that reflects longevity and loyalty, and he's likely going to become Pittsburgh's franchise leader in points. That's all while he leads the surprising Penguins, which are still in a playoff spot entering Wednesday's action, stays in the goal-scoring race and approaches the Olympics in Milan, Italy.

Not bad at all for a star player who is now 38. And Crosby's teammates know how astonishing he truly is.

"It shows you what kind of exceptional player and person that he is, to never be satisfied with anything," Pens winger Bryan Rust told The Associated Press regarding Crosby. "Everything he's done at a team level, at an individual level, on and off the ice. It'd be easy to kind of start to pull back the reins a little bit, but I think it's almost like it's almost fuelling him a little bit more to get more and more."

Indeed, he's not pulling back the reins at all. To the contrary.

Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby Closing In On More Penguins HistoryPittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is very close to breaking another franchise record.

There's no doubt that Crosby is a shoo-in to captain Team Canada at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics. Nobody else who could be on Team Canada has the kind of success on the international stage as Crosby. All he's done is win two Olympic gold medals, a gold medal at the IIHF World Championship and gold medals at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and last year's 4 Nations Face-Off.

Crosby has always delivered above and beyond anyone's expectations, and if the next Olympics is his last hurrah on the global stage – which, to his credit, may not be the case if he prolongs his career – Crosby is going to be motivated to go out on a high note.

At this stage, he's doing all that's been asked of him and more as he tries valiantly to push the Penguins on what could be his last, best chance to win his fourth Cup – and his first since 2016-17.

As we're going to see once again this month, Crosby will be deserving of every honor he receives. When we talk about him, we're talking about a top-five NHL talent of all-time, and maybe higher. And as Crosby continues racking up the achievements, he'll underscore his special place in hockey history.

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