Sid the Kid is sticking in Pittsburgh until he’s Sid the Old Man.
The Penguins and superstar center Sidney Crosby agreed to a 12-year contract extension worth $104.4 million yesterday that leaves little doubt Crosby has overcome the concussion-like symptoms that sidelined him for most of the last two seasons.
The deal keeps the 24-year-old Crosby in Pittsburgh through 2025 and gives the team some room to play in the free-agent market. Crosby, whose previous deal was set to expire next summer, will be paid around $8.7 million a season. Crosby officially will sign the extension on Sunday.
“We are grateful for all that Sidney Crosby has done for our franchise since coming to Pittsburgh in 2005, both on and off the ice, and we look forward to having him in a Penguins uniform for the rest of his career,” owner Mario Lemieux said in a statement.
The 2009 MVP has been limited to just 28 games in the last 18 months after sustaining a concussion in the Winter Classic against the Capitals in January, 2011. Crosby finished with eight goals and 29 assists last season and added three goals in a first-round playoff loss to the Flyers.