Penguins Captain Crosby Emotional Over 2016 Cup Win Memories

Veteran star reflects on past glory as current team surges in standings

Jan. 31, 2026 at 7:55pm

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Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was overcome with emotion when watching a tribute video to the team's 2016 Stanley Cup championship team before a recent game. The memories of that title run, including key goals by teammates like Nick Bonino and Bryan Rust, brought Crosby to tears as he stood on the ice with other veterans from that squad. While the Penguins have struggled to replicate that success in recent years, the current team is surprising many by climbing up the standings, led by Crosby's continued excellence.

Why it matters

Crosby's emotional reaction highlights the lasting impact of championship moments and the special bond forged by teams that achieve that level of success. As the Penguins franchise icon, Crosby's connection to the 2016 title team is particularly strong, and seeing those memories resurface underscores how fleeting such glory can be in professional sports. The current Penguins' resurgence also suggests the team may be poised to contend for a title again soon.

The details

During a pregame ceremony, the Penguins organization played a tribute video highlighting key moments from the team's 2016 Stanley Cup run. Crosby, standing on the ice with teammates Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin, became visibly emotional watching plays like Nick Bonino's overtime winner and Bryan Rust's go-ahead goal in the Eastern Conference Finals. Many of Crosby's former teammates from that championship squad have moved on to other roles in hockey, further emphasizing how quickly a winning team can be dismantled.

  • The Penguins played the tribute video before their February 1, 2026 game against the New York Rangers.

The players

Sidney Crosby

The 38-year-old captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins, considered one of the greatest players of his generation after leading the team to Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017.

Kris Letang

A veteran defenseman for the Penguins who was part of the 2016 championship team and was standing on the ice with Crosby during the tribute.

Evgeni Malkin

A longtime star center for the Penguins who was also part of the 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cup-winning teams alongside Crosby.

Nick Bonino

A former Penguins forward who scored the overtime winner in Game 6 of the 2016 Eastern Conference Finals.

Bryan Rust

A Penguins forward who scored a key go-ahead goal in Game 7 of the 2016 Eastern Conference Finals.

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What they’re saying

“I love the experiences and the memories that I have. That's how it comes out. You don't see those moments all the time. It's not like I watch those on YouTube. So when you see them, they tend to hit you a little harder the older you get.”

— Sidney Crosby (mymotherlode.com)

“Every time you go to the Stanley Cup finals, especially for the teams that win, the stories that you have, the camaraderie, you know you bled for each other throughout that year. So I'm sure it's really cool for these guys to get back together and it's really cool that I'm in the same dressing room as some of the Stanley Cup champions.”

— Stuart Skinner, Penguins Goaltender (mymotherlode.com)

What’s next

The Penguins will look to continue their strong play and push for a playoff spot in the second half of the season. Crosby and the team's veteran core will aim to guide the younger players and recapture the championship magic of the 2016 and 2017 teams.

The takeaway

Crosby's emotional reaction to the 2016 Penguins championship tribute underscores the lasting impact of title-winning moments and the special bonds forged by championship teams. While the current Penguins squad is exceeding expectations, they still have work to do to reach that elite level, but Crosby's leadership and the team's recent surge suggest they could be a force to be reckoned with come playoff time.