On Monday afternoon, Penguins’ captain Sidney Crosby began his – and the team’s – annual ritual of hand-delivering season tickets to Pittsburgh families.
His first stop was with a family that included several children – including two young kids both donned in 87 jerseys – overjoyed to meet their hero, who didn’t shy away from conversing with them.
To Crosby, this was just another day on the job. Just another starting marker for the upcoming NHL season, which will be his 20th. Just another Monday afternoon.
You’d never know be broke the biggest Penguins’ news of the summer just hours earlier.
In the morning hours on Monday, it was announced by Penguins’ general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas that Crosby had agreed to a two-year, $17.4 million contract extension.
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Although many were expecting him to sign at a higher average annual value (AAV) this time around – especiallly with both the salary cap and player salaries one the rise – it came as no surprise to anyone in Pittsburgh that Crosby’s AAV rang in at the same $8.7 million that is has been for the past 11 years:
There is something so unique about not just Crosby the hockey player, but also Crosby the person.
As for the “hockey player” part? Well, you could go on and on about his stats, his accomplishments, and his knack for winning everything there is to win.
Crosby is currently ranked 10th all-time in points with 1,596, and there’s a good chance he surpasses Joe Sakic (1,641) for ninth by season’s end. He is knocking on the door of the all-time point-per-game seasons record, as he tied Wayne Gretzky at 19 last season and will vie for his 20th.
He has won three Stanley Cups, two Olympic gold medals, a World Championship, a World Cup, a World Junior Championship, two Hart Trophies, two Art Ross Trophies, three Pearson/Lindsay Awards, two Rocket Richard Trophies… you name something to win in the sport of hockey, he’s probably won it.
Related: BREAKING: Crosby signs two-year contract extension
But that’s not what makes “Sid the Kid” one of the best there’s ever been.
No. What makes him incomparable to anyone else in hockey – and, arguably, anyone else in sports – is his unwaivering commitment to winning and his undying loyalty to the organization that drafted him, the city that molded him, and the people who have supported him over the years.
And Crosby, the man himself, didn’t have enough good things to say about Pittsburgh when asked about this very sentiment – and, mind you – while doing a makeshift press conference during his ticket delivery run in, quite fittingly, a random Pittsburgh stranger’s backyard.
“It’s probably difficult to put that amount of time into a sound byte,” Crosby said, smiling. “But the support, the people, the fans, the organization – just everything over the years – it’s been really special. I’ve had some incredible experiences and memories, so I just want to continue that.”
Dubas, who has only been with the Penguins’ organization for just over a year, echoed those sentiments after the annoucement.
“There are no words to properly describe what Sidney Crosby means to the game of hockey, the city of Pittsburgh, and the Penguins organization,” Dubas said. “Sidney is the greatest player of his generation and one of the greatest players in the history of the game. His actions today show why he is one of hockey’s greatest winners and leaders. Sid is making a tremendous personal sacrifice in an effort to help the Penguins win, both now and in the future, as he has done for his entire career.”
Obviously, Crosby’s career accomplishments speak for themselves. But it’s the human side of “Sid” that has endeared him to several generations of Pittsburgh fans, media, and teammates.
There’s no telling what the future might hold for 87 and his Penguins. But Crosby is confident that things are looking up for the roster and the franchise.
“I think it’s just about trying to become a team,” he said. “And if you look at this year, it’s really uniqiue because there’s a ton of competition for jobs. Typically, there might be a little less – there’s one or two spots – but this year’s probably the most competitive, looking back at other years, that I’ve seen.”
He continued. “So, hopefully, that’s something that pushes us as a group. But I think it’s a good thing, and to have that right from the start I think will set the tone.”
Crosby is well-aware that the Penguins have missed the playoffs for two consecutive seasons. But he’s hungry to get back to playing meaningful games this coming spring, and the winning culture of the organization and the expectations of its fans is something that motivated him to do that in Pittsburgh, not elsewhere.
And he believes a quick turnaround is possible with the Penguins.
“I think it’s just trust and belief. Knowing the organization, knowing the group of guys that we have… I think there’s always been an expectation here, and I love that,” Crosby said. “I love that the expectation is to win. I think it gets the best out of everybody. It pushes us to be better, and I think it’s an important element, so all those things combined just make me think that way.”
Related: Contract Extension Would Allow Crosby to Chase Rarely Discussed NHL Record
Regardless of what happens over the course of his new contract, his commitment to the Penguins and Pittsburgh fans is something to behold. It serves as a stark reminder that Crosby isn’t just your typical superstar athlete, but that he’s something more – something more to fans, to Pittsburgh, to hockey, and to the sporting world.
And, for at least three more years, Pittsburgh will have the privilege to continue witnessing one of the greatest players and humans of all time win hockey games and continue to show up on season ticket holders’ doorsteps.
Crosby truly is one of a kind, and he’s in black and gold to stay.
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