"There are no words to properly describe what Sidney Crosby means to the game of hockey, the city of Pittsburgh and the Penguins organization. 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."
"Sid's work ethic, focus, character, and mastery of his craft are the stuff of legends to those inside of hockey. Yet, what makes Sid most special is that he actually surpasses that legend with his daily commitment to his craft and to helping the Penguins win. His dedication to the Penguins through 2027 ensures that our franchise will have its Captain as we go through this phase of our project. Sid's commitment reiterates our urgency to build a team around him that can return our team to contention and provide our players with Sid's leadership and example of what it means to be a Pittsburgh Penguin."