Sidney Crosby’s surprising secret that fuels his hunt for a 4th Stanley Cup

Fans across the NHL know of Sidney Crosby and his many wild superstitions. A new one was exposed recently when a viral video revealed that the Pittsburgh Penguins superstar has a unique ritual that captures both his competitive spirit and his humility.

After every Stanley Cup-winning captain’s photo, he frames it and places it on his wall in his home gym. The tradition began in 2008, following a tough playoff loss to the Detroit Red Wings. That defeat became motivation as Crosby used it to fuel the Penguins’ journey back to the Cup the next postseason, where they emerged victorious.

Since then, the ritual has continued, with one frame left intentionally empty. That empty frame is a symbol of aspiration as it waits for the day Crosby can fill it with a photo of himself as a four-time Stanley Cup champion, a tangible reminder of the goal he continues to chase as his storied career progresses.

Everyone would love to see Crosby hoist another Cup before he hangs up the skates, but many doubts linger as the Penguins have entered an important retooling process and trade rumours have even circled around number 87. Earlier this month, the Pens superstar commented how he could understand why recent speculation had linked him to the Montreal Canadiens, his favorite NHL team from his childhood. His agent, Pat Brisson, also made comments that only fuelled rumours, claiming that a trade always remained a possibility for any player in the NHL.

Most insiders, especially out of Pittsburgh refuse to believe Crosby will be traded ahead of the March 6 deadline in 2026. But only time will tell.

If the Penguins are completely out of contention and the empty frame keeps haunting Sid, we could see him join a contender to get that last picture on the wall.

However, he would not be the captain on the picture unless he wins it in Pittsburgh.