Sidney Crosby Reveals Why He Took Such A Team-Friendly Deal

3 months ago  /  NHL Trade Rumors

Sidney Crosby today took an incredibly team-friendly deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins in signing his two-year extension with the same $8.7 million cap hit he's had for the last 12 years. He really had GM Kyle Dubas over a barrel in these negotiations, but Crosby had no intention of putting himself over the team.He could have commanded more money. But this move obviously allows the Penguins significantly more flexibility under the salary cap to add to their roster around him. Crosby explained to the media today after the signing that he's simply more focused on winning than getting every last dollar:Crosby on his contract: "I just think winning is the most important thing to me... and trying to give the team the best possible chance to be successful. Ultimately, you got to go out there and do your best and do your job. So, I think I'm more focused on that than the number." pic.twitter.com/e0ggKWD3BA— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 16, 2024Crosby said he got "reassurances" from Dubas that the money saved will go towards building a roster that will get them back to the playoffs.  “You want to try to find every way possible to get back in (to the playoffs) and make sure that we compete for the Stanley Cup. So I think that (conversation with Dubas) was reassuring to hear, and that helped.” When asked why he doesn't need to the highest paid player, Crosby responded, "I just think winning is the most important thing to me... and trying to give the team the best possible chance to be successful. Ultimately, you got to go out there and do your best and do your job. So, I think I'm more focused on that than the number.""Enjoy the next three years of watching Sidney Crosby play for the Pittsburgh Penguins," writes Penguins beat writer Rob Rossi in The Athletic. "Breathe it in. Cherish it. Get a little sentimental, if necessary. Never in your lifetime will you see his kind again".The 37-year-old is a three-time Stanley Cup winner with the Pens, and sits 10th on the NHL's all-time points list with 1,596 with 592 goals and 1,004 assists.But Rossi calls this latest move by Crosby "his sweetest assist yet".Photo: © Geoff Burke-Imagn Images...

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