When Sidney Crosby entered the National Hockey League in the 2005-06 season, the hype was almost unprecedented. The Atlantic Canadian forward immediately drew comparisons to the league’s greatest player, Wayne Gretzky, and became the youngest captain in NHL history, only eclipsed later by Gabriel Landeskog and Connor McDavid).

As the future Hall of Famer prepares for his 18th season in the NHL, he is reflecting on the path that helped shape his legendary career with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The first season served as the first step toward breaking records and winning multiple Stanley Cups, as well as playing for Team Canada on an international level.

In partnership with Audible, Crosby released The Rookie Year, a snapshot into his life in his own words.

Narrated by Pittsburgh native and Penguins fan Joe Manganiello, Crosby talks candidly about growing up with the game, playing alongside his childhood idol Mario Lemieux and the pressure of a struggling team placed on his shoulders when he was just 18. He enlists the help of his family, coaches and former teammates, offering listeners an inside look at his rookie season, one of the most scrutinized and tumultuous in professional hockey’s history.