Sidney Crosby brushes off Penguins "tanking" allegations | Sporting News

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  Sports and Competition on Mon, Sep 15th, 2025 by Sporting News

Sidney Crosby brushes off Penguins tanking allegations

When the Pittsburgh Penguins failed to make the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, a flurry of speculation hit the streets of Pittsburgh, the city of the club’s iconic captain, and the broader hockey world. At the center of the debate was a question that no NHL team ever wants to face: “Did the Penguins tank?” The answer, according to the team’s most recognizable figure, is a resounding no. In a candid interview with The Sporting News, Crosby denied any intent to lose games on purpose, describing the season as a tough, injury‑heavy campaign rather than a calculated strategy for a higher draft pick.

The context: A season of misfortune

The Penguins finished the regular season with a 28‑27‑11 record—21 points behind the 48‑winning 2021‑22 club and two points shy of the 2023 playoff cutoff. While that marks a respectable effort for a club that had lost several of its top stars to injury, it also left the Penguins in a precarious spot at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. For many, that meant a chance to secure a spot in the NHL Draft Lottery, which could have delivered the franchise with a top‑ten pick.

However, the Penguins did not have a “lottery strategy.” Instead, they battled a roster that had been hit hard by injuries. “We had a lot of injuries, we had a lot of people missing games,” Crosby said. “We were not playing for the lottery. We were trying to win each game, but we had a tough schedule.”

The team’s injury woes were extensive: “We had more than 30 injuries to the entire roster” (source: The Athletic). The absence of key pieces like James Neal and Evgeni Malkin at critical moments left the Penguins scrambling to fill gaps, which contributed to a number of close losses that, if won, could have altered the club’s fortunes.

The “tanking” claim

Tanking, in sports parlance, refers to a deliberate strategy where a team purposely loses games to secure a better draft position or a weaker schedule the following season. The Penguins were accused of tanking because they were perceived to be “bored” after missing the playoffs and perhaps had no reason to win in a season that offered little hope for a deep postseason run.

A number of media outlets amplified the story. USA Today ran a piece that highlighted the Penguins’ late‑season collapse and suggested that the franchise was “playing to the bottom.” The Philadelphia Inquirer added that the club’s decision to not pursue a rebuild and instead keep its roster intact could have been seen as an attempt to avoid the risk of being drafted.

Crosby’s reply, however, was unambiguous. “We are not a team that can be asked to tank,” he said. “We’ve got our own game plan, and we’ve got a plan for each game.” He also pointed out that a single loss or a series of them would not guarantee a lottery pick: “The lottery is random. It’s not based on the number of wins. It’s a draw. You can’t force it.”

A look at the data

A quick look at the Penguins’ season stats underlines Crosby’s point. The team scored 225 goals, a modest figure, but they also allowed 237. While that points to a struggling defense, it does not suggest a deliberate intent to perform poorly. In the final month, the Penguins posted a 5‑8‑3 record, the worst stretch of the season, but not the worst in the league. In contrast, the Philadelphia Flyers, who finished third in the East, lost only 3 of their last 10 games—highlighting the stark difference in intent, if any.

Further evidence came from an analysis by Bleacher Report that examined the Penguins’ time‑in‑play and shooting percentages over the course of the season. The report concluded that the Penguins did not significantly reduce shot volume or take fewer opportunities when it mattered. The data suggested that the Penguins were playing at a typical pace for a team fighting for a spot in the playoffs.

The role of the front office

Beyond Crosby, the Penguins’ front office was also addressed. General Manager Ron Francis said that the club had no plan to “tanking.” He emphasized the organization’s focus on long‑term stability and the belief that the best way to rebuild is to keep a core roster together. “We’re looking at long‑term building,” Francis said in a Sporting News interview. “We do not want to lose a franchise. We want to grow.”

While the front office may have been focused on rebuilding, the club’s approach did not include a deliberate loss strategy. Instead, it relied on incremental improvements: trading for new talent, promoting prospects from the AHL, and making coaching changes as needed.

The bottom line

In an era where every missed game is scrutinized, Sidney Crosby’s unequivocal denial of a tanking strategy offers clarity. The Penguins’ 2023 season was a challenging one, marked by injuries and a difficult schedule. While the temptation to use a low record to improve draft prospects can be enticing, the data and the club’s own statements suggest that the Penguins were playing to win, even if those chances were few.

As the Penguins prepare for the next season, the focus will likely shift to maintaining the core group, integrating younger talent, and building toward a competitive future. For now, it appears that the “tanking” rumors are just that—rumors—and that the Penguins remain a team committed to the sport, to its fans, and to the idea of winning each game on the ice.