Sidney Crosby has seen plenty of change across his 21 NHL seasons.
asserted
Crosby → see → seasons
The Pittsburgh Penguins captain entered the league at a time when many newcomers, not including himself, were often forced to wait their turn — both on the ice and when it came to getting paid.
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it → enter → ice
That version of the league continues to dip further out of view.
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version → continue → view
The NHL’s youth infusion has seen stars like San Jose Sharks centre Macklin Celebrini, Chicago Blackhawks counterpart Connor Bedard and New York Islanders defenceman Matthew Schaefer burst out of the gates.
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stars → see → gates
Crosby has taken note.
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Crosby → take → note
“It just feels like it’s become normal, and it shouldn’t be, but it has,” said the three-time Stanley Cup winner.
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winner → feel → ?
“There’s just a lot of young players that are ready.
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that → ’ → players
“Teams are much quicker to give those young guys a look and give them responsibility early.”
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Teams → give → responsibility
Recently named Sharks captain at age 20 after finishing fourth in league scoring last season, Celebrini said expectations don’t impact his approach.
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expectations → name → approach
“It’s not really a burden,” said the top pick in 2024.
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pick → ’ → 2024
“I want to push myself to the highest level …
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I → want → level
I hope I take another step this year.”
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I → hope → step
Schaefer, meanwhile, is coming off a standout rookie campaign that ended with a Calder Trophy victory.
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that → come → victory
“You go into your first year, you don’t know what to expect,” said the No. 1 selection in 2025.
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selection → go → 2025
“You’re at training camp, you’re at rookie camp, and you’re a little nervous.
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you → ’re → camp
“I’ve learned so much.
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I → learn → much
I gained my confidence.
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I → gain → confidence
I learned what the league was like.”
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league → learn → what
Young guns are also getting much bigger contracts than past generations, thanks in large part to the salary cap pushing up to US$104 million in 2026-27 from $95.5 million last season.
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cap → get → million
The number was also largely stagnant — between $81.5 million and $83.5 million — from 2019-20 through 2023-24 because of financial pains caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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number → cause → pandemic
Celebrini signed a contract extension carrying an average annual value of $18.8 million beginning next season, while Anaheim Ducks centre Leo Carlsson ($18 million AAV) and Bedard ($15 million AAV) have also cashed in.
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Carlsson → sign → season
Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson said veteran players should be happy to see the numbers skyrocket in the early-20s age group.
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numbers → say → group
“One of the hardest sports on your body,” said the 32-year-old.
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old → say → body
“There aren’t many hockey players in their 60s and 70s that are like, ‘Hey, I feel good.’
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I → be → 60s
You’re putting a lot on the line.
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You → put → line
“Fans see it, ‘Oh, they live an amazing life.’
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they → see → life
Yeah, but guys are blocking shots with their face, they’re fighting — it’s a physical, physical game.”
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it → block → face
Schaefer, meanwhile, can’t officially sign his next contract until July, but watched fellow blueliner Cale Makar get a record-setting $20.4-million AAV from the Colorado Avalanche this summer.
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Makar → sign → Avalanche
“My agent can worry about that,” the 19-year-old said with a smile.
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old → worry → smile
“Math was fun, but it’s not what I’m good at.”
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I → ’ → what
Schaefer added it’s a special experience to see players of his vintage already having success: “Amazing generation to be a part of.”
One that has simply run with the chances presented.
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that → add → chances
“It’s not something that has been too big for them,” Crosby said.
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Crosby → ’ → them
“They’ve grabbed it … that’s what makes them who they are.”
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they → grab → it
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the draft lottery odds to select Gavin McKenna with the top pick in June.
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Leafs → beat → June
Hockey’s biggest media market is a different animal compared to starting in San Jose, but Celebrini said the 18-year-old winger should be up for the challenge.
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winger → compare → challenge
“A lot of eyes on him,” he said of McKenna.
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he → say → McKenna
“You see what goes on with the guys there, and how difficult it can be at some points, which is a blessing and a curse.
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which → see → points
“I don’t think it’ll affect him too much.”
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it → think → him
The Carolina Hurricanes won the Cup in June using a grinding, relentless approach that’s unique to their roster.
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that → win → roster
Crosby said that while the formula is effective for that group, it’s not one every organization could replicate despite the NHL often being a copycat league.
uncertain
NHL → say → group
…and 13 more, not listed.
The Aporia
