Sidney Crosby finally answers question about leaving the Pittsburgh Penguins

At the NHL's media tour today in Las Vegas, Sidney Crosby definitively said that he will re-sign to become a lifetime Penguin.

Earlier this week, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman had reported that Crosby may be hesitant to commit to an offer from the Penguins. The Penguins clearly aren't going to be contending for the playoffs with an aging core, and Crosby had to weigh the option of being a lifelong Penguin or playing in the playoffs.

After playing the last 19 seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins, it's hard to imagine Sidney Crosby in any other jersey. He's still one of the best players in the league at 37 years old, but Crosby is now a living legend that should be appreciated every game he plays. In 1272 career games with the Pens, Crosby has scored 592 goals and 1596 points, won three Stanley Cups, and every important individual award in the NHL. It's part of his legacy that he'll now retire a Pittsburgh Penguin too, and that's important to him.

Crosby is currently in the final year of a 12 year contract for $8.7M. He'll likely get a raise on his next deal, and the term could be anywhere from 2 to 5 years.

The Crosby-era Penguins dynasty is arguably already over, but while these players are playing out their final years together, fans should still appreciate their dedication to the city and team. It's unfortunate they won't make the playoffs anytime soon, but this group of Penguins are legends for delivering the championships they did.

Source for stats and salary: PuckPedia - Sidney Crosby