It occurred later in the summertime than many anticipated, however the Pittsburgh Penguins lastly confirmed on Monday that famous person captain Sidney Crosby has agreed to a two-year contract extension that can preserve him connected to the membership by means of no less than the 2026-27 NHL season.
Based on Rob Rossi of The Athletic, there wasn’t a lot doubt among the many events {that a} deal can be reached earlier than the upcoming marketing campaign obtained underway.
“Crosby knowledgeable the Penguins of his intention to re-sign not lengthy after the (2023-24) season,” Rossi defined, “clearing the best way for (Penguins president/normal supervisor Kyle Dubas) to plan for the offseason realizing the deal would finally get achieved. After making early progress in June, Dubas and Pat Brisson, Crosby’s agent, resumed talks in earnest final week — and the deal was finalized Sunday evening.”
Crosby was on observe to turn into an unrestricted free agent on July 1 of subsequent yr and first turned the topic of some trade rumors this previous winter earlier than the Penguins missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season. Eyebrows had been then raised when his thirty seventh birthday got here and went final month with out him placing pen to paper on an extension, and some suggested he may agree to hitch a contender as a rental if Pittsburgh endured a tough opening half of the 2024-25 season.
Nonetheless, Crosby then shared last week he was “fairly optimistic” he would quickly signal an extension with the Penguins that may permit him to keep playing for the membership previous his fortieth birthday. His deal ensures he’ll proceed to hold a salary-cap hit of $8.7M per season, which has been the case for the reason that 2008-09 marketing campaign.
“Sidney and I had many discussions over the summer season in regards to the attainable extension,” Brisson stated, per Rossi. “He needed to mirror on every thing previous to making a ultimate determination on phrases and (common annual worth). He’s extraordinarily excited to proceed serving to the franchise win one other championship.”
As of Monday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook continued to have the Penguins at +120 betting odds to make the playoffs for this season. Regardless of such forecasts, Crosby elected to remain a one-club man and stay with heart Evgeni Malkin and defenseman Kris Letang after they turned the longest-tenured trio of teammates in North American skilled sports activities historical past final October.