He has been an icon for the league over the past 19 seasons and has helped revive the sport's popularity.
That being said, at 37 years old, he has fewer years left to play than he's already played. The most recent contract he signed, a two-year deal worth $8.7M annually, shows that retirement is approaching. He will definitely reassess everything at the end of this contract, which expires at the end of the 2026-2027 season.
While many believe his retirement will come around this time, his good friend, Kristopher Letang, thinks we won't see a Sid the Kid retiring anytime soon. The defenseman wouldn't be surprised at all to see him, in a way, follow in Jaromir Jagr's footsteps and play until he's 45, or even 50.
In my opinion, it's very possible, but it will all depend on how competitive number 87 still is by then. We all know Crosby is proud and loves to perform. Therefore, it's quite possible that retirement won't come due to a lack of love for the game, or because he can't keep up with the speed, but simply because he's no longer as competitive as he once was.
It will be interesting to see how Crosby reinvents himself in the coming years. Even if he slows down, he'll need to find a way to remain valuable to his team. If not, in my opinion, he'll want to leave the game while still at his peak.
POLL | ||
Do you think Sidney Crosby will follow in Jaromir Jagr's footsteps and play until he's 50? | ||
Yes | 151 | 25.8 % |
No | 435 | 74.2 % |
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