Crosby Having a Nice Start


With 17 points in his first 9 games of 2013/14, many are already talking about Sidney Crosby having a season for the ages. The real impressive thing is the era in which he is producing such outstanding numbers. Crosby's 17 points are 4 ahead of second place Henrik Sedin and the 24 other players within 3 points of each other trailing him. Even when Wayne Gretzky was putting up 200 points a season in the 1980's a 4 point lead in the points race at this stage of the season was rare.

A look at the scoring leaders during the early 1980's at the same point in the season:

(GP-G-A-PTS)

Through Oct. 26, 1980
Charlie Simmer    7-8-8-16
Kent Nilsson        9-6-8-14
Wayne Gretzky    8-5-9-14
 
Through Oct. 25, 1981
Real Cloutier     10-7-12-19
Marcel Dionne      9-8-9-17
Wayne Gretzky  10-7-10-17
 
Through Oct. 27, 1982
Wayne Gretzky    9-6-18-24
Mike Bossy        12-12-8-20
 
Through Oct 23, 1983
Wayne Gretzky    9-11-13-24
Peter Stastny        10-3-18-21
 
Oct 28, 1984
Wayne Gretzky   9-10-17-27
Mike Bossy         8-12-11-23
 
Oct 27, 1985
Dale Hawerchuk   9-6-11-17
Brian Propp            8-8-8-16
Wayne Gretzky      7-4-11-15
 
Oct 26, 1986
Wayne Gretzky    10-8-20-28
Mario Lemieux     9-12-12-24
Walt Poddubny      9-4-12-16

Amazingly, even back in the high-flying 1980's Gretzky et al never had more than a four point lead in the scoring race at this point in the season. The fact that Crosby does now, when goal scoring is 40 to 50% lower makes it all the more impressive. Now, if he can just stay healthy perhaps we will indeed see a season for the ages.



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