BUFFALO, N.Y. -- There never should have been any doubt.
Sidney Crosby on Monday signed a two-year contract extension that kicks in after the last year of his current contract expires and runs through the 2026-27 season. It has the same average annual value that he's had ever since his very first entry-level deal expired: $8.7 million.
While it's not automatic that every player who signs a multi-year contract after age 35 gets the 35+ contract designation, Crosby's contract is a 35+ contract because it has signing bonuses beyond the first year. He'll get paid a $9 million signing bonus and a $780,000 salary in the first year, and a $6.53 million signing bonus and a $1.09 million salary the second year. Because Crosby signed a contract that fits the 35+ designation, his cap hit will remain in the event that he retires before it ends, and it cannot be reduced through a buyout or termination otherwise.
Like his previous contract, Crosby's new contract will also have a no-movement clause, which protects him from trades and re-assignments without his consent.
Crosby will be 39 when the contract expires.
"I'm just glad that it's done," Crosby told reporters during season ticket deliveries on Monday. "I'm really happy to know that I'll be here for a few more years. My last contract, I don't think I thought about the possibility of still playing beyond that at the time. So just really happy that it's worked out this way."
Crosby remaining a Penguin through 2026-27 has him signed one year past Evgeni Malkin's contract ending in 2026, and one year short of Kris Letang's contract ending in 2028. He said last week at the NHL Media Tour in Las Vegas that it's "hard" to put a number on how many years he has left to play at this point, and that he was at the point where he was evaluating how he felt both mentally and physically each year. He said that in negotiating this current deal, he had to put thought into "the years, trying to project how you're going to feel."
"It's hard, you know," Crosby explained. "Just making sure that it's something that made sense for both myself and the team, and trying to figure out in my mind, what that looked like. It was a pretty smooth process."
That process was made smooth in part due to Crosby always taking a reasonable salary in $8.7 million. The Penguins have him on a discount. He's underpaid for what he brings, and he has been for nearly his entire career. Obviously, part of that comes from Crosby's superstitions regarding the number 87, as it stems from his Aug. 7 birthday -- the Penguins are lucky that Crosby wasn't born any later in the year -- but it also comes from Crosby's commitment to winning. If he asked for more, it would make it harder for the team to build around him.
"Winning is the most important thing to me," he said of his salary. "I think understanding the dynamic and how it works, and trying to give the team the best possible chance to be successful, ultimately, you've got to go out there and do your best and do your job. I'm more focused on that than the (salary), I guess, but that's just something that's my approach, and that's how I've always kind of seen it."
Kyle Dubas alluded to the low cap hit Crosby agreed to when speaking about his impact in a team release after the signing.
“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 “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.
“Sid’s work ethic, focus, character, and mastery of his craft are the stuff of legends to those inside of hockey," Dubas continued. "Yet, what makes Sid most special is that he actually surpasses that legend with his daily commitment to his craft and to helping the Penguins win. His dedication to the Penguins through 2027 ensures that our franchise will have its Captain as we go through this phase of our project. Sid’s commitment reiterates our urgency to build a team around him that can return our team to contention and provide our players with Sid’s leadership and example of what it means to be a Pittsburgh Penguin.”
As the extension talks dragged into the offseason, there was frequent speculation -- almost always from Canada -- about whether Crosby would actually sign and finish his career in Pittsburgh. Some opined that he might want to join a team closer to contention and join a friend in Nathan MacKinnon in Colorado, others speculated that he might want to finish his career in a Canadian market. Crosby was asked if there was any temptation to play for another team during this process, and he didn't hesitate in answering. "No." He never wanted to leave Pittsburgh, and he also believes he still has the opportunity to win here.
"I had some conversations with Kyle throughout the process and think that it was reassuring based on we discussed that there's still hunger from the organization and ownership to win and and a commitment there," Crosby said. "Missing the playoffs for a couple 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 Stanley Cup. That was reassuring to hear, and that helped."
Both Dubas and Fenway Sports Group have spoken on an number of occasions about how paramount it is that Crosby never plays a game for another team and eventually retires a Penguin. While there's no telling whether this will be Crosby's last NHL contract -- he's not exactly slowing down. But the deal today confirms the commitment both sides have to Crosby finishing his career in Pittsburgh.
Crosby spoke on Monday about what it has meant to him to play for the Penguins in Pittsburgh for as long as he has, and said that it's difficult to fit it all into a "sound bite."
"The support, the people, the fans, the organization, just everything over the years has been really special," Crosby said. "I've had some incredible experiences and memories. So I just want to continue that. Having the opportunity to play with Geno and Tanger this long, which is pretty rare, being part of an organization like this for as long as I have, has been really special."
