Penguins Captain Crosby Emotional Over 2016 Cup Win Tribute

Veteran star reflects on championship team as current Penguins surge up standings

Feb. 1, 2026 at 12:31am

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Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was overcome with emotion when watching a tribute to the team's 2016 Stanley Cup championship prior to a recent game. The memories of that title run brought Crosby to tears, as he stood on the ice with former teammates like Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin. While many of those players have moved on, the current Penguins squad is finding success and climbing up the standings, giving Crosby hope that they can recapture that championship magic.

Why it matters

Crosby's emotional reaction highlights the lasting impact of the Penguins' 2016 championship team, which cemented his status as one of the greatest players of his generation. The current Penguins team is looking to return to that level of success after a playoff drought, providing optimism for the franchise and its loyal fan base.

The details

Crosby was overcome with emotion when watching a tribute video to the 2016 Penguins team that won the franchise's fourth Stanley Cup. The video featured highlights of key moments from that championship run, including Nick Bonino's overtime winner in the Eastern Conference Finals and Kris Letang's Cup-clinching goal. Crosby stood on the ice with Letang and Evgeni Malkin, surrounded by many familiar faces from that team, which led to the usually reserved captain shedding tears as the memories came flooding back.

  • The tribute video was shown before the Penguins' 6-5 win over the New York Rangers on February 1, 2026.

The players

Sidney Crosby

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

Kris Letang

A defenseman for the Pittsburgh Penguins who was part of the 2016 championship team and scored the Cup-clinching goal in Game 6 against the San Jose Sharks.

Evgeni Malkin

A longtime star center for the Pittsburgh Penguins who was also a key member of the 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cup-winning teams.

Nick Bonino

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

Bryan Rust

A Penguins forward who scored the go-ahead goal in Game 7 of the 2016 Eastern Conference Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

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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 (wbal.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 (wbal.com)

What’s next

The Penguins will look to continue their strong play and push for a playoff spot as the Olympic break approaches.

The takeaway

Crosby's emotional reaction to the 2016 championship team tribute highlights the lasting impact of that title run and the challenge of recapturing that level of success. However, the current Penguins squad is showing signs of being able to return the franchise to championship contention, providing hope for the future.