The Pittsburgh Penguins and Jake Guentzel’s future are hot topics right now, but Sidney Crosby’s upcoming offseason is a less spoken subject. The captain of the Penguins will be starting the last year of his current contract rather than being nearing the end of it.
Crosby may sign a contract extension with the Penguins with one year remaining on it. Although some media sources could argue that Crosby should leave Pittsburgh as soon as possible, he has no intention of doing so and will probably sign a new contract on July 1.
However, what type of agreement could Crosby ask for? Without a doubt, he is a Hall of Famer who, despite turning 36 before the 2023–24 season began, hasn’t exhibited any symptoms of aging. Whatever the cost, Crosby will undoubtedly be well worth it.
Insider Elliotte Friedman has been closely monitoring the Penguins, following players like Guentzel, Reilly Smith, and even Erik Karlsson, but he also took some time to consider the potential terms of a new deal for Crosby.
“I wanted to know what this might look like.” On the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Friedman inquired. “This is what I thought of. $10.5 times three.
According to Friedman, Crosby’s next contract appears to be a $10.5 million, three-year agreement. Crosby is nearing the end of a 12-year contract that brought in $8.7 million a year over the salary ceiling. It has been widely accepted throughout the course of those 12 years that Crosby performs at a level far above his asking price.
Since his debut season in 2005, Crosby has been among the top hockey players in the world, but he has never actually received a salary to reflect that caliber. Friedman speculates that the Penguins should finally give him what he deserves at this point.
According to Friedman, “I believe they take an action that communicates, ‘This is what you’re worth.'” “You’re worthy of this.” That’s my assumption.
Crosby is deserving of every dollar he wants, and the Penguins will be able to sign him to any contract he wants thanks to an anticipated rise in the salary limit ceiling. Though there have been rumors that Crosby would leave Pittsburgh, every indication is that he will sign a potential last extension this summer.