The Pittsburgh Penguins have secured their captain, Sidney Crosby, for the long term with a two-year contract extension, announced by the team. The deal will keep Crosby in Pittsburgh until the conclusion of the 2026-27 season and comes with an average-annual-value of $8.7 million.

Describing Crosby as an icon of the game, Penguins president of hockey operations, Kyle Dubas, expressed his admiration for the player's contributions to hockey, the city of Pittsburgh, and the organization. Dubas emphasized Crosby's status as the greatest player of his generation, highlighting his significant impact as a winner and leader. The decision to extend his contract demonstrates Crosby's commitment to the Penguins' success both in the present and in the future, building on a career of tremendous sacrifices.

Crosby's previous contract was set to expire after the 2024-25 season. Having been selected as the first overall pick by the Penguins in the 2005 NHL Draft, the upcoming season will mark his remarkable 20th year with the franchise. Throughout his tenure, Crosby has achieved numerous accolades, including leading the Penguins to three Stanley Cups, participating in 10 All-Star Games, winning the Hart Trophy twice as league MVP, and earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP on two occasions.

Known for his exceptional play on the ice, Crosby holds several franchise records for the Penguins. He leads in categories such as games played (1,272), even-strength goals (416), even-strength points (1,025), and game-winning goals (90). In terms of career statistics, Crosby ranks second in goals (592), assists (1,004), and points (1,596) in Penguins history, with legendary player Mario Lemieux ahead of him.

Crosby's impact extends beyond the team record books. He currently ranks 10th in NHL history, with a total of 1,596 points (592 goals, 1,004 assists) in 1,272 career games. Impressively, Crosby has never had a season without accumulating at least one point, a feat that he shares only with hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. Lemieux remains the only player drafted first overall with more career points than Crosby.

Coming off a season where he tallied 94 points (42 goals, 52 assists) while playing in all 82 regular-season games, Crosby is determined to lead the Penguins back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after a two-year absence. The team will rely on his exceptional skill, leadership, and desire to bring success to Pittsburgh.

With Crosby's contract extension, fans can look forward to watching the beloved captain continue to make his mark on the Penguins and the sport of hockey while chasing even greater achievements in the seasons ahead.