13:00
-
-
    
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby on the ice for a game in PPG Paints Arena
Photo credit: NHL

Sidney Crosby May Accept the Hometown Discount as He Looks to Extend His Contract

Published February 28, 2024 at 1:54 PM
BY
SHARE THIS STORY
FOLLOW US

Expectations were high in Pittsburgh for this season, especially after missing the playoffs by one game last year. With the Penguins sitting sixth in the Metropolitan Division, and seven points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for the Wildcard spot, Crosby also has something else on his mind. A contract extension.

On July 1st, 2024, he will be eligible to negotiate an extension with the Penguins. All signs are pointing towards the captain staying with the team.

Sidney Crosby May Follow Suit with Other NHL Players Who Took Less Money to Stay with Their Team



Adam Proteau of The Hockey News gave some insight into what the Penguins and Crosby might look to accomplish.


«The most prominent example of that would be the incredible hometown discounts veteran Boston Bruins centers Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci gave to the B's when they were in their final seasons. Combined, Bergeron and Krejci had a base salary of $2.5 million. Although they had performance bonuses in their deals, that's a fraction of what the duo could've secured from another team. That allowed Boston to go out and augment their lineup with as many high-impact veterans as they could fit under the cap ceiling.»



Looking forward, the Penguins will have enough salary cap in 2025-26 with eight players under contract and $42.5 million in cap room. Crosby will have his say in what he will accept, but there is a good indication that he will take less to give more money to top tier linemates in hopes of pursuit of another Stanley Cup.

Will Kyle Dubas Do Right by Crosby if he Does Take the Hometown Discount



There is always the fear that even if Sidney Crosby does take less money to stay in Pittsburgh and free up cap for other players that Kyle Dubas will put together a contender. As Proteau points out;

«Even if Crosby were to cut his payday in half to somewhere in the $4.4-million range in what would likely be his final contract, there's no guarantee the Penguins would use their cap space to provide Crosby with enough talent to thrive as a team. They've been trying to do that for the past six seasons and won exactly one playoff round in that span.»



Looks like even after this season ends for the Penguins, there will still be a lot of conversation around the next chance for Crosby to win a Cup.

As Read On: Hockey Feed - Report hints at Sidney Crosby's ultimate sacrifice for the Penguins
POLL
February 28   |   206 answers
Sidney Crosby May Accept the Hometown Discount as He Looks to Extend His Contract

Do you think Sid will take the hometown discount to stay in Pittsburgh?

Yes18288.3 %
No2411.7 %
LIST OF POLL
Latest 10 stories
TOP 5
LEADERS
GPGAPTS
1-  NIKITA KUCHEROV
8144100144
2-  NATHAN MACKINNON
825189140
3-  CONNOR MCDAVID
7632100132
4-  ARTEMI PANARIN
824971120
5-  DAVID PASTRNAK
824763110
6-  AUSTON MATTHEWS
816938107
7-  LEON DRAISAITL
814165106
8-  MIKKO RANTANEN
804262104
9-  J.T. MILLER
813766103
10-  WILLIAM NYLANDER
82405898
2023-2024 LEADERS  
FOLLOW US
facebook
47 054 followers