Perhaps it is a surprise only that it has happened to Sidney Crosby this quickly, this impressively.

Crosby has been viewed as ice hockey's next great talent, one who might be good enough to rival Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, since he was setting scoring records at age 13. Now, as Crosby readies for his first NHL All-Star game at age 19 on Wednesday in Dallas _ yes, the same age Gretzky and Lemieux made their All-Star debuts _ it appears to be happening.

For the first time since Gretzky was setting a different standard for ice hockey stardom 27 years ago, a player not yet in his 20s has become his sport's signature figure. Crosby is not only the NHL's most popular player _ as evidenced by his landslide win in the All-Star voting _ but arguably its best player.

"Yes, definitely, there's not even any question," said Pittsburgh Penguins linemate Mark Recchi, who, while more than prejudiced, echoes a sentiment shared widely by numerous NHL players, executives and coaches.

Check out the reaction of Carson Briere, the young son of Sabres center Daniel Briere, upon learning his dad would start the All-Star game: "Wow, you get to play with Sidney Crosby!"

It's not just that Crosby is scoring, but how he's scoring, with a verve, passion and a drive. In successive games against Tampa Bay this month, he scored while sliding on his side, controlling the puck while doing so, and from his knees.

Despite a politeness and maturity that would be uncommon for players five years older than himself, Crosby has an edge, too. After being sucker punched in the stomach last week by the New York Islanders' Jason Blake, he charged after Blake with a look that couldn't mask his anger and disdain.

No more Mr. Nice Scorer.

"I think emotion is definitely part of the game and it brings out a lot in players," Crosby said. "No doubt I get caught up in it."

Nor does he get caught up in the scoring race. Less than a year after becoming the youngest player in NHL history to have a 100-point season, the Penguins center could threaten to become the first since Lemieux in 1996 (161 points) to have a 150-point season.

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