Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby signed a two-year contract extension worth $17.4 million US that runs through the 2026-27 season on Monday.
Crosby, the No. 1 pick in the 2005 NHL draft, is ramping up for a team-record 20th season with the Penguins and his 18th as team captain.
Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas confirmed in a team-issued statement the deal holds an average annual value of $8.7 million.
“There are no words to properly describe what Sidney Crosby means to the game of hockey, the city of Pittsburgh and the Penguins organization,” said Dubas. “Sidney is the greatest player of his generation and one of the greatest players in the history of the game. His actions today show why he is one of hockey’s greatest winners and leaders.
“Sid is making a tremendous personal sacrifice in an effort to help the Penguins win, both now and in the future, as he has done for his entire career.”
Incredibly, Sidney Crosby will end up playing 19 (!) of his NHL seasons with a cap hit of $8.7M. That has given the <a href=” tremendous flexibility to build out other areas of their roster at the expense of much greater career earnings for him personally.
—@reporterchris
The 37-year-old Crosby has three Stanley Cups with the Penguins and is climbing career records lists. He’s 10th on the NHL’s all-time points list with 1,596.
“Sid’s work ethic, focus, character, and mastery of his craft are the stuff of legends to those inside of hockey. Yet, what makes Sid most special is that he actually surpasses that legend with his daily commitment to his craft and to helping the Penguins win,” Dubas said.
Only Steve Yzerman, a 19-season captain with the Detroit Red Wings, was a longer-tenured captain in NHL history than Crosby, the Penguins’ all-time leader in games played (1,272), even-strength goals (416), even-strength points (1,025) and game-winning goals (90).
Crosby trails only Mario Lemieux on the Penguins’ career chart in goals (592), assists (1,004) and points (1,596). Lemieux (690-1,033-1,723) is the only NHL No. 1 pick who has recorded more points than Crosby.
A 10-time all-star, Crosby is also a two-time winner of the Hart Trophy, the Art Ross Trophy, the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy and the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Source Agencies
