New deal for Crosby
Two-year contract extension with Penguins for his regular $8.7M/year
Sidney Crosby isn't sure how much longer he's going to play hockey.
He remains certain, however, where he wants to do it.
The Pittsburgh Penguins star signed a two-year contract extension on Monday that runs through the 202627 season. The deal, which carries an average annual value of $8.7 million, would keep Crosby in Pittsburgh until nearly his 40th birthday.
The agreement came on the eve of Crosby's 20th training camp with the Penguins, who took him with the first overall pick in the 2005 draft. Crosby had been eligible to sign an extension on July 1. While talks dragged on longer than expected, Crosby said last week he was “pretty optimistic” about something getting done before the season began.
Crosby indicated the hold-up was merely his lack of clarity on how much longer he intends to play.
“Trying to project how you're going to feel in a number of years, it's hard,” Crosby said.
“Just making sure that it's something that made sense for both myself and the team.”
The 37-year-old Crosby, a threetime Stanley Cup winner and two-time league MVP, didn't ask for a raise even though he remains one of the most productive players in the NHL.
■ The Detroit Red Wings signed forward Lucas Raymond to an eightyear, $64.6 million contract Monday, completing a deal with one of their best young players less than 72 hours before training camp begins.
Raymond will count $8.075 million against the salary cap through 2032. The 22-year-old was a restricted free agent without a contract for the upcoming NHL season and was coming off setting career highs with 31 goals, 41 assists and 72 points.
FORMER CFLER DEAD AT 51
Ben Fairbrother, an offensive lineman who was selected second overall in the 1997 CFL draft by the Saskatchewan Roughriders, has died. He was 51.
Both the Riders and B.C. Lions, the CFL teams Fairbrother played for, confirmed his death via social media. Although the cause of death wasn't divulged, Fairbrother reportedly died in a motorcycle accident late last week in Edmonton.
CANADA'S BJK CUP TEAM NAMED
Singles star Leylah Fernandez and doubles specialist Gabriela Dabrowski will anchor Canada's fiveplayer lineup when the team tries to defend its Billie Jean King Cup title in mid-november.
The 26th-ranked Fernandez, the 2021 U.S. Open finalist from Laval, Que., is the lone Canadian in the top 100 of the WTA Tour's singles rankings.
Dabrowski, from Ottawa, is ranked fourth on the doubles list.
The 2023 U.S. Open women's doubles champion won mixed doubles bronze with Felix Auger-aliassime at the recent Paris Olympics.
Marina Stakusic of Mississauga, Ont., returns after a breakout performance last year, capped by her singles win in Canada's 2-0 victory over Italy in the final. Vancouver's Rebecca Marino is also back and Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 U.S.
Open champion from Mississauga, Ont., returns to the squad for the first time since 2022.
Canada, which received an automatic berth as defending champion, will play the winner of the first-round tie between Great Britain and Germany on Nov. 17 at Malaga's Martin Carpena Arena.
Australia, Italy and wild-card entry Czechia also received first-round byes.
■ U.S. Open champion Jannik Sinner introduced a new fitness coach and physiotherapist to his team on Monday after firing his previous staff members because of a doping case.
Marco Panichi takes over as fitness coach and Ulises Badio as Sinner's physiotherapist. Both Panichi and Badio previously worked with Novak Djokovic.
CANADIAN CRICKETERS BEAT NEPAL
Captain Nicholas Kirton scored 73 runs not out and Dilon Heyliger took five wickets as Canada celebrated its first one-day international on home soil in 11 years with a commanding 103-run win over Nepal in ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 play Monday in King City, Ont.
Kirton, batting fifth, hammered six sixes and three fours in his 44ball knock to help the 19th-ranked Canadians score their first one-day international win over No. 16 Nepal. Canada was blanked in a three-match ODI series in Nepal in February.