The Penguins and superstar center Sidney Crosby have agreed to a contract worth $104.4 million over 12 years. The front-loaded deal, which takes effect for 2013-14, will average $8.7 million per season. Crosby, widely regarded as the NHL's best player, already has a Stanley Cup and a Hart Trophy as the league's MVP to his credit. But he has also sustained multiple concussions that sidelined him for the bulk of two seasons. Is it risky for the Penguins to set aside that much money for a player with a serious concussion history?

• Nondescript Observer: "Sid's talent is worth that kind of money. However, one more concussion and that contract will look like a monumental mistake."
• Kyle Kanin: "as risky as this deal looks, the kid is still the most worldwide marketable player in hockey and number 2 is not close. he also has 1 cup already. if they hit on this, it'll return as much as any athlete can, especially in hockey"
• cowboys7667: "Either way, Crosby just produced 1300 comments in an hour, he's doing something right. For everyone saying that he whines and is not any good, maybe you should go look at his stats. Plus athletes don't reach their prime til they are 27, sooo we still may have not even seen his best stuff. I am an Avs fan and am not a crosby fan at all. But, the stats don't lie, hard to argue his talent"
• Steelergal00: "Nice that he's being locked up to 36, but you would have thought the owners would have learned their lesson about overpaying players from the last time the NHL got into a financial mess..."
• sherrerd: "Does the contract come with an Ulf Samuelsson clone to protect him?"



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