"He’s dynamite. He’s the best player I’ve seen since Mario. He’s that good."
—Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky

"He’s a great passer and sees the ice real well.
—Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin

"The league hasn’t had a guy like this in a long time."
—All-Star Mike Modano

"He keeps you on the edge of your seat. He gets off the ice and you can’t wait to see him get back on."
—Former NHL star Gilles Meloche

"You can tell he’s a big-league player. He wants the puck in big moments."
—Teammate Lyle Odelein

"He said he needs to work on his shot a little bit. But it looks pretty good to me."
—Hockey legend Mario Lemieux

"He's a special kid. He's a better player than I was at the same age, for sure. He's got it all."
—Lemieux

"He’s quicker than I was. Maybe a better shot, too."
—All-Star Peter Forsberg

"He’s going to be a superstar in this league."
—Flyers star John LeClair

"I’ve won the Stanley Cup, won gold medals. Getting Sidney Crosby was the happiest day of my life."
—Penguins exec Craig Patrick

"His work ethic is incredible."
—NHL veteran Phil Bourque

"Some kids his age might be phony. He’s not one bit."
—NHL coach Brent Sutter

"You’re not going to intimidate this kid. He’s not going to back off. There are players like that. When we played against Henri Richard or Frank Mahovlich, the word at our meetings was leave those guys alone. Ask them how their families are doing, but don't wake them up. If you tick them off, they become even better players."
—Penguins exec Ed Johnston

"He can pass the puck as well as anyone I’ve seen play the game—maybe with the exception of Wayne and Mario."
—Veteran coach Mike Keenan

"We have a very strong idea of being grounded. We understand the real world and how it works."
—Trina Crosby

"He is the total package, on and off the ice."
—NHL veteran Dale Tallon

"Sidney Crosby, you’re the youngest captain to hoist the Stanley Cup, congratulations!"
—NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman

"Sid the Kid had been far too quiet for far too long in this tournament. But he picked the right time to re-emerge and justify those hundreds upon hundreds of number-87 jerseys being worn in this ecstatic, thundering crowd."
—Sportswriter Brian Lynch

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