Sidney Crosby has been one of hockey’s most exciting players since he entered the league as the first overall pick in the 2005 NHL Draft. At the same time, he’s been the face of the Pittsburgh Penguins franchise.
It looks like Penguins fans have their man for another decade. Crosby is expected to get a 10-year, $90 million contract extension, according to CBSSports.com. He is lined up to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season.
Crosby has dealt with concussion symptoms over the past two seasons that have kept him off the ice. But, despite playing in just 41 games during the 2010-2011 season, Crosby posted 32 goals and 34 assists — good for 1.6 points a game. In 22 games last season, he scored eight goals, tallied 29 assists and averaged 1.7 per game. He continued to deal with concussion symptoms and a neck injury during the year.
If the $9 million a season deal is completed, that would make Crosby the second-highest paid player in the league behind Alex Ovechkin of the rival Washington Capitals.