After Sidney Crosby stated goodbye to his final household of season ticket holders on Monday afternoon, he checked in to see if I wanted something from him earlier than heading out, as I had tagged alongside to cowl the visits.
I didn’t essentially need to hassle him additional after a busy day that started with an off-the-cuff skate within the morning; adopted by the announcement of his contract extension; after which heading straight from the rink to carry on the longtime team tradition. However as all the time, Sid was understanding, accommodating, and gracious along with his time, prepared to reply a couple of extra questions on primarily changing into a Penguin for all times.
The group drafted Crosby first total only a few days earlier than his 18th birthday, and this deal will take him by age 39. He’ll surpass his childhood hero Steve Yzerman because the longest-tenured captain in NHL historical past, remaining loyal to Pittsburgh like one other one in every of his idols, Mario Lemieux. I needed to understand how Crosby felt about being firmly ensconced in that small echelon of gamers who spend their whole prolonged, storied careers with one crew.
“It’s fairly cool. It is actually laborious for that to occur,” Crosby stated. “I do not suppose I take into consideration that an entire lot, however I believe that if you have a look at that, it is actually tough for it to work out that manner. So, the truth that I’ve performed this lengthy, and (Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin) have, that is tremendous uncommon. So, I believe you simply respect that chance, as a result of it would not occur that always.”
Crosby understands the importance of this deal however doesn’t actually see it as a reflection-type of expertise “as a result of I understand how I really feel concerning the metropolis, the crew, the folks right here. That is ingrained. I believe it was extra about transferring ahead, simply eager to do extra of that, mainly – eager to be part of that much more.”
However when Crosby does have a look again on his time in Pittsburgh and why he loves enjoying right here, “I believe the issues that come to thoughts are clearly the primary time I got here right here – coming down the escalator on the airport, and simply so many individuals there to welcome me and say hello.
“First house sport, after which I bear in mind the 100-point sport. We’re in final place or second-to-last place, and it offered out. You thought it was a playoff sport. Getting back from the concussion… like, these snapshots or these moments in time stand out lots.”
Crosby stopped, shook his head and smiled.
“I imply, I might go on and on, we might spend an hour right here,” he stated. “However I believe for me, it is fairly clear to me what the town, what the crew, what all of the folks imply to me right here. It makes it that rather more thrilling to have the ability to know that I’ll be a part of it for longer.”
Honestly, Crosby is glad the contract scenario is taken care of, and he can deal with enterprise as ordinary since all the pieces feels established order from his perspective, seeing as that is now yr 20 with Pittsburgh.
“It’s odd, I get it, however it’s simply odd to me as a result of it simply looks like, again right here for an additional camp and similar routine. Would not really feel that a lot completely different,” Crosby stated earlier than including with a smile, “I am glad that is out of the way in which and we are able to simply get again to doing regular stuff, and I may be chirping OC (Drew O’Connor) subsequent to me, and Bunts (Michael Bunting).”
Crosby’s locker stallmates did say his chirp sport isn’t the very best, “however possibly we’ll educate him a couple of issues now that he’s signed,” Bunting joked. “And we’ll continue learning from him each single night time. We’re all excited to clearly have him again for a couple of extra years.”
Significantly his two longest-tenured teammates.
“He’s Pittsburgh Penguins without end, like me,” Malkin stated. “I’m glad for him, for certain. I believe he’s feeling we nonetheless have an opportunity to win. We’ve got an important crew this yr, for certain. We talked yesterday a little bit bit on the ice, I stated (three years), it is not sufficient for you [laughs]. You’ll most likely nonetheless play if you’re like, 50. He’s the captain, management… I wish to play with him. I hope we win once more.”
Crosby sticking along with his $8.7 million common annual worth will assist the Penguins in that regard, because it’s an enormous discount that provides administration flexibility. Letang stated he knew earlier than Crosby signed that the superstitious captain wasn’t straying from that quantity.
“I used to be fairly excited for him,” Letang stated. “Clearly, he works on his sport. He is nonetheless a passionate man. He cares a lot about this crew and profitable and proving that we are able to lead a crew to win one other Stanley Cup. The truth that he retains his wage the identical simply exhibits you the way dedicated he’s to that activity.”
