Rob Rossi of The Athletic reported on Monday that longtime Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and the team are confident they will soon finalize a new contract, despite ongoing rumors about Crosby’s future. Crosby, who has one season left on his current deal and has been eligible for an extension since last Monday, is expected to continue his partnership with the Penguins.
“Although both sides anticipate Crosby will extend his successful tenure with the Penguins, the delay in announcing his next contract fuels public speculation about the possibility of him testing free agency next summer or being traded,” Rossi explained. “However, sources indicated that these scenarios were never discussed.”
Crosby, who turns 37 next month, was the subject of trade rumors this past winter before the Penguins missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season. While multiple reporters have dismissed such speculation, the fact that Crosby hasn’t officially signed a new deal has led some to wonder if he is reconsidering his future, especially since The Athletic’s Josh Yohe noted that Penguins president of hockey operations/general manager Kyle Dubas is overseeing a transition within the organization this summer.
“Crosby reaffirmed to Dubas his public statements that he wants to finish his career with the Penguins, who drafted him No. 1 overall in 2005,” Rossi said about offseason conversations between the two. “Both sides view the potential deal as ‘a commitment to Pittsburgh,’ according to a team and league source.”
Rossi also revealed that Crosby could sign a contract lasting around three years with an average annual value of $10 million. Such a deal would allow the three-time Stanley Cup champion to continue playing alongside center Evgeni Malkin and defenseman Kris Letang until the end of their Penguins careers. According to Wes Crosby of the NHL’s website, these three club icons became the longest-tenured trio of teammates in North American professional sports history in October 2023.
Some believe the Penguins should start a full rebuild since the window to win another title with Crosby, Malkin, and Letang has likely closed. However, Crosby has undeniably earned the right to end his career on his own terms with the only NHL team he has ever played for.