Could Crosby match Brady’s late-career success? A crucial detail disagrees | NHL News Times of India

Sidney Crosby, the Pittsburgh Penguins? veteran center, is about to start his 21st NHL season. Despite consistent performances that defy his age, Crosby’s team hasn?t made the playoffs for the past three seasons. Fans wonder if he might choose to chase another Stanley Cup by joining a different team in the style of Tom Brady’s late-career move in the NFL.

However, Crosby’s situation is significantly different from Brady’s. He has chosen to remain loyal to the Penguins, despite their current rebuilding phase. Brady never had the experience of working with a team in this stage of development. He left the Patriots to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team stacked with talent that gave him an immediate shot at another championship.

Meanwhile, Crosby is committed to a team that has their sights set on future success. Their focus is not just on the present, which could potentially make another Stanley Cup run more challenging in the short term.

The Penguins’ GM, Kyle Dubas, has created a sense of hope by overseeing an aggressive 2025 NHL Draft. He made 13 selections and accumulated a significant number of future picks. If the rebuild is successful and rapid, it could lead the Penguins back into contention before Crosby’s window closes. Crosby, who signed a two-year extension starting in 2025-26 and broke Wayne Gretzky’s record for most seasons averaging over a point per game, maintains his elite skills. But without a stronger roster, the chances of mirroring Brady’s late-career success might remain elusive.