Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Sidney Crosby has agreed to a long-term
contract extension with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The 12-year, $104.4 million deal will start with the 2013-14 season and will
keep Crosby with the club through the 2024-25 campaign. It cannot be signed
until July 1 when the free agency period begins.
Crosby will play the 2012-13 season under terms of a year five-year extension
he signed in the summer of the 2007. He is reportedly due $7.5 million for the
upcoming season, while the extension calls for an annual cap hit of $8.7
million.
"This is a great day for hockey and tremendous news for the Pittsburgh
Penguins and our fans," said co-owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle in a joint
statement on Thursday. "We are grateful for all that Sidney Crosby has done
for our franchise since coming to Pittsburgh in 2005, both on and off the ice,
and we look forward to having him in a Penguins uniform for the rest of his
career. He is an excellent player and an even better person, and he is a great
ambassador for the Penguins and for Pittsburgh."
The 24-year-old superstar played just 22 regular-season games last season
because of concussion-related injuries. He was hurt in January 2011 and missed
the remainder of the 2010-11 season before returning last November, then
played eight games before a recurrence of symptoms forced him out again until
March 15.
Crosby posted eight goals and 29 assists for 37 points in his 22 games during
the regular season, then added three goals and five assists in six playoff
games as the Pens were ousted by Philadelphia in the first round.
In 434 career regular-season games, Crosby has 223 goals and 609 points. In
2006-07, at just 19 years of age, he won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL
scoring champion and the Hart Trophy as the league's regular-season MVP. He
helped the Penguins to the Stanley Cup title in the spring of 2009.
"He's a very special player and knowing that he will be here long-term is
outstanding news for our players, coaches, staff and fans," said Penguins
general manager Ray Shero. "Sidney also brings those extra dimensions as our
captain, with his leadership in the room and on the ice. We're all very
excited to reach this agreement on an extension."
The Penguins selected the Nova Scotia native with the first overall pick of
the 2005 draft.
The Sports Network