BREAKING: Crosby signs two-year contract extension

The deal for the longtime Penguins' captain carries an average annual value of $8.7 million and runs through the 2026-27 season

After a long summer of anxiousness and anticipation, Pittsburgh Penguins' fans can finally breathe a long sigh of relied.

On Monday, the Penguins announced that captain Sidney Crosby signed a two-year, $17.4 million contract extension with - of course - an average annual value of $8.7 million.

General Manager and President of Hockey Operations Kyle Dubas had nothing but good things to say about Crosby, and he praised the captain for his generous and otherwordly commitment to building a winner again in Pittsburgh.

"Sidney is the greatest player of his generation and one of the greatest players in the history of the game," Dubas said. "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."

Entering his 20th NHL season, Crosby is chasing several personal milestones in 2024-25. He will begin the year with 592 goals and 1,596 points, on the verge of both 600 goals and 1,600 points. He will also look to surpass Joe Sakic for ninth on the all-time points list. Sakic currently sits at 1,641.

Most notably, he is chasing the NHL record for consecutive point-per-game seasons at 20. As of now, he is tied with Wayne Gretzky at 19.

Beyond all of that, however, Crosby wants to play for his fourth Stanley Cup Championship - and he wants to do it in black and gold. That much was clear when he signed for $8.7 million AAV, because - even if it's his trademark "8.7" - it's much, much lower than his market value.

It also reinforces the idea that Dubas, Crosby, and the Penguins are trying to simultaneously compete and build for the future, as winning is an appetite that never waivers for someone like Crosby.

Dubas doubled down on this sentiment.

"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," he said.

Crosby and his Penguins open training camp on Wednesday, and their season opener will be at PPG Paints Arena on Oct. 9 against the New York Rangers. They will try to fight their way back to the playoffs in 2025 after two consecutive seasons of failing to qualify for the postseason.