Penguins Finally Announce Sidney Crosby Extension

The 2024-25 NHL season is right around the corner and all eyes have been on Sidney Crosby's future. After all, the upcoming campaign marks the final year of the Pittsburgh Penguins captain's 12-year contract that he signed back in July 2012.

Crosby, 37, has played his entire career with the Penguins since being drafted first overall, so it's hard to imagine him playing elsewhere. Fortunately, passionate Pittsburgh fans no longer have to worry about seeing No. 87 in another jersey anytime soon.

The Penguins announced on Monday that Crosby has been signed to a two-year deal that'll keep him under contract through the 2026-27 season. The three-time Stanley Cup winner's new deal also carries an average annual value of $8.7 million, which is the same number he's been at since his rookie contract expired.

Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas had nothing but great words to say about Crosby in the team's official press release.

"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 about the club's captain. "Sidney is the greatest player of his generation and one of the greatest players in the history of the game."

Dubas went on to add that Crosby is making a "tremendous personal sacrifice" by taking less money than he's worth. With how today's NHL contracts are skyrocketing, the former 2005 No. 1 overall selection could've easily demanded more than $10 million annually if he wanted to.

The fact that the veteran center is willing to take such a big pay cut shows that he wants to win at least one more Stanley Cup in Pittsburgh before hanging up his skates.

Crosby is one of the Penguins' all-time greats, which he proves every time he steps foot on the ice. He currently ranks second in the franchise's history books when it comes to goals (592), assists (1,004) and points (1,596), trailing hockey legend Mario Lemieux in each category. That's without mentioning the three Stanley Cups he brought to Pittsburgh.

The Cole Harbour, NS native might no longer be in his prime, but that hasn't stopped him from remaining as one of the NHL's top forwards heading into year 20. He tallied 42 goals and 52 points without missing a game last season, leading to his best point total (94) since the 2018-19 campaign (100).

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Now that Crosby's contract situation will no longer provide a distraction, the Penguins can focus on attempting to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2021-22. Their journey begins when they open the new season against the rival New York Rangers on October 9.