Penguins A to Z: Sidney Crosby doesn't need to prove a thing. But he probably still wants to

With the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 2023-24 season coming to an end without any postseason action, the Tribune-Review will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 51 individuals signed to an NHL contract — including those whose deals do not begin until next season — with the organization, from fourth-line center Noel Acciari to reserve winger Radim Zohorna.

This series is scheduled to be published every weekday leading into the second day of the NHL Draft on June 29.

(Note: All contract information courtesy of Cap Friendly.)

Sidney Crosby

Position: Center

Shoots: Left

Age: 36

Height: 5-foot-11

Weight: 200 pounds

2023-24 NHL statistics: 82 games, 95 points (42 goals, 52 assists), 20:05 of ice time per game

Contract: In the 11th year of a 12-year contract with a salary cap hit of $8.7 million. Pending unrestricted free agent in 2025.

(Note: Crosby’s contract contains a full no-movement clause.)

Acquired: First-round draft pick (No. 1 overall), July 30, 2005

This season: The statute of limitations on things to prove expired a long time ago with regard to Sidney Crosby.

With a handful of Stanley Cup rings and individual accolades, Crosby doesn’t need validation.

But he still pursues it.

That was the message he offered at a season ticket holder event in September when he noted the Penguins as a whole had “something to prove, I think, for everybody.”

Crosby certainly picked up his portion of that pursuit by appearing in all 82 games while offering a prolific level of production.

And then there was his resolute determination in the final weeks of the regular season that nearly got the Penguins into the postseason.

And with the considerable exception of a lull leading up to and after the trade deadline in early March, Crosby’s contributions were steady from the opening of the season. Perhaps the high point of the early stages of 2023-24 came in a 5-3 road win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Nov. 14 when he netted his 16th career hat trick as well as an assist.

Pittsburgh goal!

Scored by Sidney Crosby with 05:32 remaining in the 3rd period.

Assisted by Erik Karlsson and Jake Guentzel.

Columbus: 3
Pittsburgh: 4#PITvsCBJ #CBJ #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/XqljgHa8yI

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) November 15, 2023

Despite the Penguins’ power play struggling for virtually the entire season, Crosby’s production was steady through the first handful of months of the 2023-24 campaign as he did not go consecutive games without a point until Jan. 6 and 8.

By mid-February, with the Penguins struggling to stay within orbit of playoff contention, forward Jake Guentzel, by far Crosby’s most prolific linemate, suffered an undisclosed injury during a 5-2 home loss to the Florida Panthers on Feb. 14.

One week later on Feb. 21, Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas publicly vowed to give the Penguins every opportunity to prove they were a playoff-worthy team before he had to take action — as a buyer or seller — going into the NHL’s trade deadline on March 8.

In the eight games after Dubas’ proclamation, the Penguins went a lukewarm 4-4-0 and prompted Dubas to deal away Guentzel as well as respected veteran defenseman Chad Ruhwedel.

The effect of Guentzel’s absence — either due to his injury or departure — appeared to be palpable on Crosby who was only able to generate two assists in eight games between Feb. 29 and March 12.

Whatever doldrums Crosby experienced over that span went away in the final weeks of the season. Starting with an assist in a 6-3 home win against the San Jose Sharks on March 14, Crosby racked up 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) in his final 18 games of the season, the third-best total in the NHL over that span.

Doesn't look Rusty to us ???? pic.twitter.com/YKv2FuDHLM

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 31, 2024

Crosby’s most impressive effort in that final surge may have come on April Fools Day. With several players dealing with a team-wide illness, Crosby propelled the Penguins to a 5-2 road win against the powerful New York Rangers with two goals and an assist.

Fun fact: Sidney Crosby is currently the only active player in the NHL with 100+ points against at least three franchises (Flyers, Islanders, and Rangers). pic.twitter.com/DMAaTCro7e

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 1, 2024

With Crosby leading the way, the Penguins went 8-2-3 in the final three-and-a-half weeks of the regular season, missing out on the playoffs by a single point.

The future: Perhaps the most prominent question in the NHL this upcoming offseason revolves around Crosby’s future.

Per NHL rules, he can sign a contract extension on July 1 when the final year of his current contract officially begins.

There is little reason to suspect anything will go awry in negotiations. For the Penguins and Fenway Sports Group — the team’s owners — keeping Crosby in a Penguins jersey is a business decision. As long as Crosby is in a Penguins jersey, tickets will get sold and games will be watched on television.

And for Crosby, remaining with the Penguins would be congruent to a personality that is notoriously resistant to change, even to small matters such as pre-game meals or preparation of his equipment (let alone the notion of wearing the jersey of one of the NHL’s other 31 franchises).

The salary cap hit and term of a new deal are legitimate questions, especially for a player entering his late 30s.

But given that he flirted with 100 points — despite a terrible power play — and almost dragged this flawed roster into a playoff berth, there is little reason to question if Crosby can still be the most important component of the Penguins.

He doesn’t need to prove that. But he probably still wants to.

Follow the Penguins all season long.