Penguins Star Sidney Crosby Ends Contract Intrigue With New Deal

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-signed legendary NHL star and team captain Sidney Crosby to a two-year contract extension. The pact, which ties him to the Pens through at least the 2026-27 season, carries an average annual value of $8.7 million.

The announcement by Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas ends mild surprise over the past few months that a new contract agreement had yet to be reached. On July 1, Crosby entered the final year of a 12-year pact that also pays him $8.7 million per year.

“There are no words to properly describe what Sidney Crosby means to the game of hockey, the city of Pittsburgh and the Penguins organization,” Dubas said in a statement.

“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.”

The three-time Stanley Cup Champion (2009, ’16 & ’17) will be entering his franchise-record 20th season in a Penguins uniform and 18th with the ‘C’ on his sweater. According to the Penguins, Crosby trails only Detroit’s Steve Yzerman (19) as the longest-tenured captain in NHL history.

Crosby is the Penguins’ franchise record holder in games played (1st, 1,272), even-strength goals (416, 1st), even-strength points (1,025, 1st) and game-winning goals (90, 1st), and trails only Hall-of-Famer Mario Lemieux in every major category in Penguins history including goals (2nd, 592), assists (1,004, 2nd), and points (1,596, 2nd).

The 10-time NHL All Star has won a plethora of individual awards throughout his career, including two Conn Smythe Trophies as the league’s playoff MVP (2016, ’17), two Art Ross Trophies (2007, ’14) awarded to the NHL’s scoring leader, two Hart Memorial Trophies (2007, ’14) as the league’s MVP, three Ted Lindsay Awards (2007, ’13, ’14) given to the most outstanding player as voted on by the players, two Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophies (2010, ’17) as the league’s top goal scorer and one Mark Messier Leadership Award (2010).