PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – When Ben Roethlisberger was 37, he was making $40 million and year and the second highest paid player in the NFL. Sidney Crosby is now 37 and will continue to make the same salary that has him ranked as the 44th highest paid player in the NHL. Why not ask for more?
Don’t think that would have been unwarranted. He’s a three-time Stanley Cup champion. The second-greatest player in franchise history and top 10 in many statistical categories in NHL history. He had one more chance to get a bigger than $8.7 million salary. Again, why not push for more?
"I just think winning is the most important thing to me,” Crosby said Monday. “And I think understanding the dynamic and how it works and trying to give the team the best possible chance to be successful.”
He still wants to win and that salary rising high above his norm would have impacted their chance to re-sign another player or bring in a free agent or make a trade. Listen, it’s not to say he’s making seven bucks an hour. That still really good money for those who aren’t pro athletes.
To agree to this extension, part of the conversations Crosby had with GM Kyle Dubas is about the future of the team.
“I think that was reassuring, just based on what we discussed as far as there's still hunger from the organization and ownership to win and a commitment there ,” Crosby said. “I think that's something that I think for the time that I've been there, that's been the case, and that's been there. I think that's really important. I feel like as players, for all the different guys that have played here over the course of the time that I've been here, it's something that you build as a culture. That's something that's, I think, ingrained.”
“And missing the playoffs for a couple of years, not being in it, is difficult. You want to try to find every way possible to get back in there and make sure that we compete for the Stanley Cup."
Crosby being back on the ice, continuing to play at a high level, is a big key to turning it around. So is him thinking team-first with his contract, allowing them the space to improve. It’s also about trust for Crosby. He believes, as much as they’ve struggled to in the last few years, they can get back to not just making, but advancing in the playoffs.
He believes this season is the most competitive roster they’ve had in years. Crosby said there’s a ton of competition for jobs, more than just the typical one or two spots. He hopes that pushes them as a group and sets a tone for the season.
While he said it was a good process, Crosby needed some assurances from the team. When he got those, he did what he’s done for two decades, put the team first.
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