Most teams don’t experience franchise-defining moments in early August, but as Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes, the Pittsburgh Penguins just did. On Aug. 7, Sidney Crosby’s 37th birthday, Crosby signed his long-awaited contract extension with the Penguins. Known for his superstitions involving the number 87, Crosby has carried an $8.7M cap hit since the 2008-09 season and has worn No. 87 his entire career. Many in Pittsburgh had hoped he would sign a new deal on 8/7, and their wish has come true.
Rob Rossi of The Athletic reported last week that both sides felt confident after July negotiations, with sources indicating that a deal was close. However, as the summer dragged on without an official announcement, Penguins fans grew increasingly anxious. Mackey had pointed out that if Crosby’s birthday passed without a contract announcement, fans would likely enter panic mode.
Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now provided no updates from his sources but offered a balanced perspective. He highlighted Crosby’s desire to play his entire career with the Penguins, much like his mentor Mario Lemieux and childhood hero Steve Yzerman, who only wore one NHL jersey. Crosby has publicly expressed that this loyalty is significant to him.
Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLive believed Crosby would sign but posed the question that many Penguins fans feared: What if Crosby didn’t sign an extension on 8/7? The prospect was daunting for Penguins fans, as the team is currently undergoing a retooling phase with few promising prospects in the pipeline. Losing Crosby would have left them with overpriced long-term contracts and a bleak future at the NHL level.
Thankfully, that scenario has been avoided. Given Crosby’s superstitious nature and his expressed desire to stay in Pittsburgh, the reality of him remaining with the Penguins until he retires is now secure.
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