PITTSBURGH — Sidney Crosby isn’t certain how for much longer he’s going to play hockey.
He stays sure, nonetheless, the place he desires to do it.
The Pittsburgh Penguins star signed a two-year contract extension that runs by means of the 2026-27 season. The deal, which carries a median annual worth of $8.7 million, would preserve Crosby in Pittsburgh till almost his fortieth birthday.
The settlement got here on the eve of Crosby’s twentieth coaching camp with the Penguins, who took him with the primary total choose within the 2005 draft. Crosby had been eligible to signal an extension on July 1. Whereas talks dragged on longer than anticipated, Crosby mentioned final week he was “fairly optimistic” about one thing getting executed earlier than the season started.
Crosby indicated the hold-up was merely his lack of readability on how for much longer he intends to play.
“Making an attempt to challenge the way you’re going to really feel in various years, it’s exhausting,” Crosby mentioned. “Simply ensuring that it’s one thing that made sense for each myself and the crew.”
The 37-year-old Crosby, a three-time Stanley Cup winner and two-time league MVP, didn’t ask for a increase despite the fact that he stays one of the vital productive gamers within the NHL. Crosby led the Penguins in targets (42), assists (52) and factors (94) final season, properly away from the remainder of an underachieving membership that missed the playoffs for a second straight yr.
“Sidney is the best participant of his era and one of many biggest gamers within the historical past of the sport,” common supervisor Kyle Dubas mentioned in a press release. “His actions at the moment present why he’s one in all hockey’s biggest winners and leaders. Sid is making an amazing private sacrifice in an effort to assist the Penguins win, each now and sooner or later, as he has executed for his whole profession.”
Crosby’s wage staying flat provides the Penguins a little bit extra wiggle room because the NHL’s oldest crew tries to determine a strategy to get again into competition.
Pittsburgh has missed the playoffs every of the final two seasons after making it 16 consecutive years between 2007 and 2022. Crosby mentioned he obtained reassurances from Dubas throughout the negotiating course of that the membership stays dedicated to being aggressive whereas making an attempt to construct a youthful core round Crosby and longtime teammates Evgeni Malkin (38) and Kris Letang (37).
“There’s nonetheless starvation from the group (and) possession to win and a dedication,” Crosby mentioned. “From the time I’ve been right here, that’s the case and that’s been there. That’s necessary.”
Dubas mentioned Crosby’s choice to remain at $8.7 million — a cap hit that ranks outdoors the highest 40 within the NHL regardless of having maybe essentially the most completed resume of any lively participant — is symbolic of Crosby’s dedication to serving to Pittsburgh rebuild on the fly.
“His dedication to the Penguins by means of 2027 ensures that our franchise could have its captain as we undergo this section of our challenge,” Dubas mentioned.
Crosby has performed in additional video games (1,272) than any participant in crew historical past and trails solely Mario Lemieux in each different main class, together with targets (592, 2nd), assists (1,004, 2nd), and factors (1,596, 2nd). Crosby will start the 2024-25 season tenth all-time in league historical past in factors. Final yr he turned simply the second participant ever to common a minimum of a degree a recreation in 19 seasons, becoming a member of Wayne Gretzky.
The Penguins open coaching camp this week and start the common season on Oct. 9 at house in opposition to the New York Rangers. Signing Crosby removes a big potential distraction and lets Crosby concentrate on his recreation, which stays elite whilst he finishes his second decade within the NHL.
“I really feel good,” he mentioned. “I nonetheless love the sport and need to compete and I’m not going to challenge too far forward, however I’m going to attempt to play so long as I can.”
