ESPN Makes Unbelievable Prediction About Sidney Crosby This Season

A Hot Pre-Season Take

There's a reason Sidney Crosby has been hyped ever since he was a teen: he's a GOAT-level hockey player.

Even if he's older and not producing the way he once did, he's still one of the league's top centres. That's why it's a bit controversial that ESPN thinks Connor Bedard — a generational talent in his own right — will finish next season with more points than Crosby.



Bedard, who'll be playing on a still-very-bad Chicago Blackhawks team this season (even if he'll have Taylor Hall as his linemate), is predicted to have 90 points next season. Meanwhile, Crosby finishes just one short at 89.

Disrespecting Hockey Royalty?

Crosby, meanwhile, will be on a Penguins team that has much to prove after firing GM Ron Hextall and ushering in the Kyle Dubas era. With other vets like Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letting alongside Jake Guentzel and new acquisitions Erik Karlsson and Reilly Smith, Crosby shouldn't have much issue putting up points whether he's putting the puck in the net or dishing out apples.

Karlsson in particular put up 101 points last season for the San Jose Sharks, a new career high that earned him a third career Norris Trophy. Let's not forget that Crosby got 93 points WITHOUT Karlsson on his team, and during a year marred by on-ice struggles and managerial incompetence for the Penguins.

As bright a star as Connor Bedard will almost certainly become, he's yet to prove he can rack up that many points at the NHL level, and it's hard to envision Crosby — even at this stage in his career — getting fewer points than a rookie Bedard.

As seen on HockeyPatrol