30 Sidney Crosby facts to celebrate his 30th birthday

The Kid is officially a thirty-something.

It's Pittsburgh Penguins' superstar center Sidney Crosby's birthday, and to celebrate, here are 30 facts about the greatest hockey player of the NHL's shootout era, and undoubtedly one of the best players of all time.

1. Crosby's jersey number (87) is doubly significant: It represents his birth date (8/7/1987), as well as the yearly cap hit ($8.7 million) on a 12-year, $104.4-million contract extension signed in 2013.

2. He famously honed his shooting skills in his parents' basement, resulting in this banged-up appliance that sits in the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame.

For all my @penguins friend, Sidney Crosby's dryer at the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame at the Halifax Metro Centre pic.twitter.com/kAWPq7EWW9

- Dustin Hall (@DustinHallPhoto) October 19, 2013

3. Crosby grew up rooting for the Montreal Canadiens, not only because he's from Eastern Canada, but also because his father, Troy, was drafted 240th overall by the Habs in 1984. The goalie never suited up at the NHL level.

4. "Sidney's favorite player was Kirk Muller and he's had that poster up on the wall in his bedroom for as long as I can remember," Troy said back in 2006.

5. Crosby ranks second in all-time points for the QMJHL's Rimouski Oceanic (120 goals, 183 assists in 121 junior games). He sits behind former NHL center Brad Richards (143 goals, 289 assists in 190 games).

6. Not everything Sid touches is golden: Rimouski won the QMJHL championship in 2005, but lost the Memorial Cup final to a London Knights team that included Corey Perry.

7. Crosby was drafted first overall in 2005, followed by Bobby Ryan, Jack Johnson, Benoit Pouliot, and Carey Price. He was admittedly disappointed when Montreal was awarded the fifth pick in the preceding lottery selection, but things have worked out with the Penguins.

8. In his NHL debut against New Jersey on Oct. 5, 2005, Crosby recorded his first career point, assisting on Mark Recchi's season-opening goal.

9. Crosby scored the first shootout goal in Penguins history, getting the better of Montreal goalie Jose Theodore on Nov. 10, 2005 in his first game against a Canadian team.

10. He's the youngest player to record 100 points in a season (18 years, 253 days), finishing the season with 102 (39 goals, 63 assists).

11. Crosby, however, was denied the 2006 Calder Trophy, won by Alex Ovechkin on the strength of a 52-goal, 54-assist rookie campaign.

Crosby holds several other "youngest to" NHL records thanks to a tremendous amount of success from his rookie season through to the beginning of 2011, when an unfortunate string of injuries issues began. They include:

12. Youngest player to record 200 career points (19 years and 207 days).

13. Youngest player to record two consecutive 100-point seasons and youngest player to lead the NHL in scoring, recording 120 points in 2006-07 (19 years, 215 days).

14. Youngest player to lead the Stanley Cup playoffs in scoring (27 points in 2008 at 20 years, nine months, and 28 days).

15. Youngest captain to win a Cup (2009, aged 21 years, 10 months, and five days). He did hold the record for youngest permanent captain in NHL history, but has since been bumped by Gabriel Landeskog and Connor McDavid.

Crosby has also taken home a plethora of individual and team awards over the years:

16. Two Art Ross trophies (most points): 2007, 2014.

17. Two Maurice "Rocket" Richard trophies (most goals): 2010, 2017.

18. Three Lester B. Pearson/Ted Lindsay awards (voted best player by peers): 2007, 2013, 2014.

19. Two Hart Memorial trophies (regular-season MVP): 2007, 2014.

20. Two Mark Messier Leadership awards: 2007, 2010.

21. Four Prince of Wales trophies (Eastern Conference Champion): 2008, 2009, 2016, 2017.

22. Three Cups: 2009, 2016, 2017.

23. Two Conn Smythe trophies (playoff MVP): 2016, 2017.

24. Only Ovechkin has recorded more points than Crosby since the beginning of 2005-06 (1,035 to 1,027), but due to injuries, Crosby has appeared in 139 fewer games, giving him a big advantage in points per game (1.31 to 1.12).

25. He's reached 50 goals once in his career (51 in 81 games in 2009-10). His career high in assists is 84 (2006-07).

Crosby has also been incredibly successful on the international stage, too.

26. At the World Junior Hockey Championship, Crosby won silver (2004) and gold (2005), with 14 points in 12 games over the two tournaments.

27. Crosby has won two Olympic gold medals (2010, 2014). He scored the overtime game-winner against USA in Vancouver to give Canada the gold in one of the country's greatest sports moments.

28. A gold medal win at the 2015 World Championship put him in the famed Triple Gold Club, a group of 27 players who have won Olympic and World Championship gold in addition to the Cup.

29. Crosby led all players with 10 points in six games at the 2016 World Cup, adding yet another international win at the senior men's level.

30. In short, if Crosby retired today, he should be inducted into the Hall of Fame tomorrow.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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