Penguins Giving Sidney Crosby Pay Raise This Summer?
The Pittsburgh Penguins will likely give Sidney Crosby a new contract this summer.
PITTSBURGH – While much talk is being made about the Pittsburgh Penguins and the future of Jake Guentzel, a less talked about topic is what’s in store this coming offseason for Sidney Crosby. The Penguins captain isn’t at the end of his contract but will be entering the final year of his current deal.
With one year left on his contract, Crosby can sign an extension with the Penguins. Certain outlets may suggest it’s in Crosby’s best interest to leave Pittsburgh as soon as possible, but he has no plans of leaving and will likely be signing a new deal come July 1.
But what kind of contract could Crosby demand? He’s a no-doubt Hall of Famer who hasn’t shown any signs of aging despite turning 36 before the 2023-24 season kicked off. No matter what the price tag is, Crosby is sure to be worth every dime.
Insider Elliotte Friedman has been all over the Penguins recently, keeping tabs on Guentzel, Reilly Smith, and even Erik Karlsson, but he took the time to think about what a new Crosby contract could look like.
“I was wondering, what could this look like?” Friedman asked on the 32 Thoughts Podcast. “This is what I came up with… three times $10.5.”
Friedman suggested that Crosby’s next contract looks like a three-year deal worth $10.5 million. Crosby is in the final years of a 12-year deal that earned him $8.7 million against the salary cap annually. For each of those 12 years, it’s been a consensus that Crosby plays at a much higher value than his price tag.
Crosby has been one of the best hockey players in the world since his rookie season in 2005 but has never really had a payday to match that. Friedman suggests this might be the time for the Penguins to give him what he deserves.
“I think they do something that says, ‘This is what you’re worth,’” Friedman said. “’ You deserve this.’ That’s my guess.”
Crosby deserves every dollar he desires, and an expected increase in the salary cap ceiling will help the Penguins sign him to whatever he wants. While people may speculate about a Crosby departure from Pittsburgh, all signs point to him signing a possible final extension this summer.
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