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Evgeni Malkin delivers emotional locker-room message to Sidney Crosby
Following Sidney Crosby's historic night vs. the Canadiens, Evgeni Malkin delivered a powerful speech in the Penguins' locker room and threw in some humor.
Fans of the Penguins have been spoiled in a way that very few franchises have. The faces may have changed over the years, but the level of excellence has not.
The early 1990s saw the likes of Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr lead the Penguins to consecutive Stanley Cup championships, with the addition of Ron Francis and Kevin Stevens seeing them become a special team.
When the heyday came to a close, so did the era, but another would ensue. The likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang formed the nucleus of the team, as they brought home Stanley Cups in the years of 2009, 2016, and 2017.
What Sidney Crosby did to make Penguins history on Dec 21, 2025
But that history was very real in the evening of Dec. 21, 2025, when Crosby passed Lemieux to become the team's all-time points leader. The moment mattered more than the number.
Behind closed doors in the locker room, Evgeni Malkin got up and addressed Crosby. The message was personal and emotional. Malkin talked about the battles and the years they shared together.
But he did not forget to inject some humor and laughter before the team applauded.
Sidney Crosby's ranking in all-time NHL points leaders
League-wide in the NHL, both Crosby and Lemieux are now ranked eighth and ninth in all-time points, whereas Jagr continues to hold a position as the second-highest in points, after Wayne Gretzky.
In the Penguins organization, Crosby continues to move closer to breaking Lemieux's record for goals. Malkin, Jagr, and Pronovost follow in the top five, while Letang, who is ranked fifth in points, continues to trail Jagr in his overall progress.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 22 | 114 ANSWERS Evgeni Malkin delivers emotional locker-room message to Sidney Crosby Is Sidney Crosby now the best Penguin ever in your eyes? | ||
| Yes | 60 | 52.6 % |
| No | 54 | 47.4 % |
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