Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby Wants Chance at Pirates Phenom Paul Skenes

Nearly two decades ago, the Pittsburgh Penguins selected Sidney Crosby with the top pick in the NHL Draft.

There isn’t a thing that Crosby hasn’t accomplished on the ice since then. The surefire future Hall of Famer has won three Stanley Cups, two Conn-Smythe Awards, a pair of Hart Memorial trophies and has been named an All-Star eight times.

But there’s something Crosby would like a chance to do off the ice.

18 years after the Penguins selected Crosby with the top pick in the NHL Draft, the Pirates selected a phenom of their own. Last season, Paul Skenes was selected first overall and has already emerged as one of the game’s top pitchers with Pittsburgh.

Crosby wants a chance to face the Pirates’ potential Rookie of the Year, he said on 32 Thoughts with Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet.

“I’d love to,” Crosby said when asked if he would take BP off Skenes given the opportunity. “It’d be scary I think, but I’d love to make contact.”

Crosby is no stranger to stepping into the batter’s box. In 2010, Crosby and some of his Penguins’ teammates took batting practice on the field at PNC Park. A fierce competitor, Crosby wasn’t leaving until he hit a home run, which he ultimately did after sending one over the iconic Clemente Wall.

The 37-year-old is also no stranger to the Pirates. Crosby was shown on the scoreboard at PNC Park at a game earlier this season and has followed the Pirates during his lengthy and storied career in Pittsburgh.

He’s aware of what Skenes has done in his first season with the Bucs.

“He’s playing unbelievable,” said Crosby. I was following a couple games there where he had a no-hitter going. I think he ended up getting taken out … would have loved to seen him get one, but it’s only a matter of time, I think, at this point.”

Crosby’s home run during batting practice was undoubtedly impressive. Facing the full arsenal of Skenes though? Yeah, that might be a different story.

What a scene it would be, though, to see one Pittsburgh franchise-altering player take some swings against a young pitcher hoping to have a similar impact on the Pirates.