Penguins Wrap: Crosby’s Next Contract; Who’s Best Goalie Ever?

Sidney Crosby made a late-summer appearance in the headlines, but not because of anything he did on the ice for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Rather, the four-year, $53 million deal Auston Matthews signed in Toronto in mid-week sparked talk of the negotiations Crosby and the Penguins figure to have next summer, when they can begin to work on an agreement to replace the one scheduled to expire in 2025.

But while August is winding down, which means the prospects tournament in Buffalo and training camp are only a few weeks away, we’re still in the midst of a fairly quiet stretch for the Penguins — and just about every other team, for that matter.

That shouldn’t last much longer, however.

In any case, here’s a look at the past week for the Pittsburgh Penguins:

Sunday

The recent death of Buffalo Sabres broadcasting icon Rick Jeanneret was a reminder of how fortunate the Penguins were to have local legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Lange do play-by-play on their games for so many years.

Monday

Coach Mike Sullivan and his staff might want to adjust their approach to preseason games because of all the roster turnover during the offseason.

Tuesday

There’s been an ongoing debate about the best goalie in NHL history. The view here is that it’s a fairly easy call.

Kyle Dubas fares pretty well in an analysis of the trades he’s made during the past year as GM of the Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs. (+)

Wednesday

Auston Matthews’ new four-year contract with Toronto, which carries a salary-cap hit of $13.25 million, makes it fair to wonder what Sidney Crosby will get from the Penguins if, as expected, the parties negotiate a new deal next summer.

Former Penguins winger Danton Heinen is hardly the only veteran free agent who’s still looking for a contract. Or a professional tryout offer, for that matter.

Thursday

Although the NHL schedule has some serious problems, there’s nothing that couldn’t be corrected easily.

Friday

The details of Sidney Crosby’s next contract won’t be set until sometime in 2024, at the earliest, but there’s at least one thing about the deal that is pretty much guaranteed already.

Saturday

Almost every team has some players whose contributions don’t get the recognition they deserve. These are the Penguins’ five most underrated players from the past 30-plus seasons.