SAN JOSE, CA - JUNE 12: Chris Kunitz #14 and Trevor Daley #6 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrate after their 3-1 victory to win the Stanley Cup against the San Jose Sharks in Game Six of the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Final at SAP Center on June 12, 2016 in San Jose. (Photo Credit: Robert Reiners/Getty Images)

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) – Sidney Crosby knew Trevor Daley’s mother wanted to see him lift the Stanley Cup, so he made sure the injured defenseman was the first one to get it.

After the Penguins beat the San Jose Sharks 3-1 in Game 6 to win the Cup, Pittsburgh’s captain handed it to Daley, who missed the final nine games of the playoffs because of a broken left ankle. Crosby said he gave it to Daley not because of the injury but because the 32-year-old’s mother is battling cancer.

Daley told Crosby after a visit home that his mother, Trudy, wasn’t doing well.

“I think that kind of stuck with me after he told me that,” Crosby said.

When it was time to celebrate Sunday night, Crosby told Daley he’d be getting it first.

“It was pretty special,” Daley said. “He’s a great player, but he’s an even better person. There’s not much more you can say about that guy. He’s a special guy.”

Daley had played 838 regular-season games with the Dallas Stars, Chicago Blackhawks and then the Penguins before winning the Cup for the first time. He was traded twice in the past year: from Dallas to Chicago and then from Chicago to Pittsburgh for Rob Scuderi.

“That’s how great a teammate everyone thinks Trevor Daley is, 1st guy to get the cup from Crosby,” Hall of Famer Mike Modano said on Twitter.

General manager Jim Rutherford said acquiring Daley and winger Carl Hagelin changed the way the Penguins played and helped them be faster. Daley shouldered the load in the second round when Kris Letang was suspended and was one of Pittsburgh’s best defensemen in the playoffs.

Daley handed the Cup to winger Pascal Dupuis, who had to stop playing hockey several months ago because of blood clots.

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