Rangers nemesis Sidney Crosby lands 2-year extension with Penguins
Bad news for the New York Rangers: Sidney Crosby won’t be going away anytime soon after signing a two-year contract extension with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday.
The extension runs through 2026-27 and carries an average annual value of $8.7 million. The 37-year-old center, born on Aug. 7, 1987 (yes, 8/7/87), is entering the final season of a 12-year, $104.4 million contract that also has an $8.7 million cap hit, though his actual salary this season is $3 million. No. 87 became eligible to sign an extension July 1 and could have become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
“There are no words to properly describe what Sidney Crosby means to the game of hockey, the city of Pittsburgh and the Penguins organization,” general manager Kyle 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.”
Pittsburgh’s captain is the leading active scorer in the NHL — and 10th all-time — with 1,596 points (592 goals, 1,004 assists) entering the Penguins’ season-opener against the Rangers at PPG Paints Arena on Oct. 9, the start of his 20th NHL season. He was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in 2017.
The Rangers have been one of Crosby’s biggest victims since he entered the NHL in October 2005. He has 40 goals and 108 points against the Rangers in 85 regular-season games. The 40 goals are his fourth-highest total against any team; his 108 points are third. Crosby had two goals and two assists in Pittsburgh’s three games against the Rangers last season, when he finished tied for 12th in the NHL with 94 points (42 goals, 52 assists). He and Wayne Gretzky, who finished his NHL career by playing three seasons with the Rangers, are the only two players in League history who have averaged at least a point per game in each of their 19 seasons.
Now it appears the Rangers will have to contend with Crosby in divisional matchups four times or so per season for at least three more years.
Related: Rangers contingency plan if this misfortune happens again
Rangers rival remains in contention after Sidney Crosby extension
Crosby’s extension is another indication that despite dealing high-scoring, free-agent-to-be Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline in March, the Penguins under second-year GM Dubas and coach Mike Sullivan are still all-in on trying to win with a core group on the far side of 30. It’s a strategy that could lead to long-term misery — but could make them a thorn in the side for the Rangers, who will try to repeat as Metropolitan Division champs and make a long postseason run.
The Penguins inked contracts with two other late-30s veterans, center Evgeni Malkin (four years, $6.1 million average annual value) and defenseman Kris Letang (six years, $6.1 million AAV), in the summer of 2022. Malkin is 38, one year older than Crosby, and Letang is 35.
Despite all his accomplishments in black and gold, Crosby is not the highest-paid player on the Penguins. That title belongs to Erik Karlsson, the 2022-23 Norris Trophy winner as the top NHL defenseman, who was acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks last summer. The 34-year-old’s contract carries an average annual value of $10 million and also runs through 2026-27.
Former Rangers center Kevin Hayes is among the additions made by Dubas this summer to a roster that came up three points short of the playoffs last season. Hayes is 32 and has two years remaining on his $3.571 million AAV deal.
In all, the Penguins could have 11 players over 30 on their roster this season. Having extended Crosby, it’s hard to envision the Penguins changing direction and not adding more veterans in win-now mode.
Crosby is showing no signs of slowing down, although the Penguins haven’t made the playoffs in each of the past two seasons after a 16-season streak of postseason appearances that included three Stanley Cup titles. Their most recent playoff appearance came in 2022, when the Rangers defeated them on a Game 7 overtime goal by Artemi Panarin. Crosby had 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in six games during that series; he missed Game 6 with a concussion after leaving early in Game 5 following a big hit by Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba.
The two-time Hart Trophy winner as League MVP said Sept. 9 at the NHL/NHLPA media tour in Las Vegas that he’s confident the Penguins can remodel their roster on the fly.
“Some teams have been able to go through that transition a little quicker or a little bit differently than others,” Crosby said. “It’s definitely possible … as a player, though, you always want to win. That’s why you play the game.”
More About:NHL News and Rumors