Sidney Crosby: Penguins Would Be Foolish to Extend Star's Contract Beyond 2013

With Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby's season and career in jeopardy following his latest struggle with concussion problems, team general manager Ray Shero would be foolish to extend Crosby's contract beyond 2013.

The young phenom's current contract expires after next season and will obviously command a ton of money on the open market. Crosby may be able to get over $90 million from a team in a deal lasting a decade or even longer. He's a once-in-a-lifetime talent and the NHL's best when healthy.

I know Crosby means so much to the franchise, on and off the ice, but it does not make financial sense to give him an enormous extension until he can play without concussion symptoms for a prolonged period.

But will he ever be able to do that?

NBC's Pro Hockey Talk recently touched on a Sportsnet article by Nick Kypreos regarding Crosby's future with the Penguins:

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Kypreos says that Shero will be nervous for how they want to pay Crosby since they want him to be a Penguin for life. If Crosby’s concussion problems persist, however, how do you pay a player of his caliber appropriately? If healthy, Kypreos says that Crosby could command a 10-year deal worth $100 million without batting an eyelash.

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With the league's current CBA expiring after this year there is much uncertainty surrounding the 2012-13 NHL season regarding a number of issues, one of them being what the salary cap will look like.

Given the concerns over his health, what decision does Shero make regarding Crosby's future?

Trade him.

It sounds insane to Penguins fans and many other hockey fans, but it's the only move that makes sense for the franchise long term.

I would be willing to be that some team would overpay big time to acquire Crosby, and Shero could net a massive return of (high) draft picks and top NHL talent or prospects.

Without Crosby's potential massive toll on the future cap, the Penguins could sign another star player to pair with Evgeni Malkin.

Making this situation even more interesting is the future of winger James Neal, who in Crosby's absence has been sensational this season. Neal has scored 21 goals this season, ranking fifth in the league.

He is a restricted free agent at the end of the season, and at just 24 years old he will be a star for a long time. Locking Neal up is a no-brainer for GM Shero. He fits well with the Penguins and has proven to be a star talent.

It doesn't make sense for Shero to risk the financial health of the franchise by giving Crosby a huge extension, because if his concussions problems don't get any better over the next year, the team could be in real trouble; both in terms of on-ice performance and organizational health.

Kypreos also talked about the risk involved in signing Crosby:

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How can Shero not be nervous about what the franchise might be willing to pay Crosby on a new deal? Even if the Penguins still want to make him a “Penguin for life” with a new long-term deal (possibly 10 years and $100-million), it won’t come with an insurance policy that protects the Penguins from a career-ending concussion. The franchise will be on the hook to pay him if he decides to retire.

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It wouldn't be right for Shero, and Crosby, to create a situation that could potentially handicap, or paralyze, the proud Penguins franchise for foreseeable future.

There is way too much risk involved here for the Penguins, and the only way to move forward and remain a Stanley Cup contender is to trade him and improve via free agency.

Sidney Crosby has done a lot for the Penguins, but what kind of price do you put on that past success?

Follow Nicholas Goss on Twitter for constant NHL news and analysis. Follow @NicholasGoss35.

Nicholas Goss is a Boston Bruins featured columnist for Bleacher Report and was the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston.