10-Time All-Star Center Signs Extension with the Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins and general manager Kyle Dubas had a lot of questions and decisions to make going into the NHL offseason since 12 players were set to become free agents and the team wanted to bolster their squad for the upcoming season. Furthermore, and perhaps most significantly, veteran Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was getting closer to the end of his current deal with the organization. Next season, the 10-time All-Star center was scheduled to begin the last year of his deal with the Penguins, following which he was expected to become a free agent in 2024–25. Over the past few months, Dubas and the Penguins front office had kept their plans regarding Crosby under wraps. Last season, the Penguins finished three points out of an Eastern Conference Wild Card spot, which meant it was the first time in the Crosby era that the team had missed the playoffs in two straight seasons. The latest on the Penguins center was anxiously anticipated by Penguins fans, as there were speculations swirling about whether the unfathomable would happen and Crosby would be dealt this summer or sign somewhere else next offseason. Now, all speculation can be dispelled since, according to The Athletic’s Chris Johnston, Crosby and the Penguins have reached an agreement on a two-year, $17.4 million contract extension, which will surely keep the three-time Stanley Cup Champion a Penguin for the remainder of his legendary career. 

The Penguins selected the 36-year-old center with the first overall pick in the 2005 NHL Draft, marking the beginning of his NHL career. Before joining the NHL, Crosby played two seasons with the Rimouski Océanic of the QMJHL, where he scored 120 goals, 183 assists, and 303 points, establishing himself as the best prospect in his draft class. Throughout his 19-year NHL career, Crosby has established himself as the cornerstone of the Penguins' success during the Crosby era. He has set records for goals scored, set up teammates for scoring opportunities, and shown a willingness to forgo becoming the highest-paid player in the league in order to give the front office of the Penguins the financial leeway they need to consistently assemble Stanley Cup-caliber rosters. In his career with the Penguins, Crosby has helped the team win three Stanley Cups. He has also scored 663 goals in the regular season and postseason combined, ranking second in team history in goals, assists, and points, all of which are only surpassed by Penguins great Mario Lemieux.

In 2023–24, despite the Penguins missing the playoffs for a second consecutive year, Crosby carried on with his usual prolific ways and showed no signs of slowing down. Last season, in 82 games played, Crosby scored 42 goals, 52 assists, 94 points, and 10 power-play goals. In a 5-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on November 14th, Crosby recorded his best performance last season, with three shots on goal, an assist, and his 16th career hat-trick. The Penguins will enter the upcoming season and the near future with hopes of making the playoffs and winning the Stanley Cup again before Crosby decides to call it quits, as he is now set to play in the black and gold for the rest of his renowned career.