Sidney Crosby isn’t shutting down those trade rumors, and that’s pretty interesting for a guy who’s been the face of the Penguins for nearly two decades.
The 38-year-old superstar opened up about all the speculation during Monday night’s Player Media Tour. Instead of brushing off questions about his future, he tackled them head-on.
“I understand it,” Crosby said. “It’s not something you want to discuss. You’d rather be talking about who we’re getting at the deadline or where we’re at in the division.”
But losing changes everything.
“That’s the hard part about losing,” he explained. “Everybody thinks that the buzzer goes and you lose a game, and that sucks, but there’s so much more than that. It’s the roster turnover. It’s the unknown, the uncertainty, the question marks — that’s the stuff that’s tough.”
The Penguins aren’t exactly looking like contenders these days. Vegas oddsmakers at DraftKings have them as major underdogs (+600) just to make the playoffs next spring.
Sure, Crosby signed a two-year extension last September that runs through 2026-27. But his agent, Pat Brisson, made it clear: This isn’t about a farewell tour.
“He’s been so consistent for 20 years,” Brisson said. “He had another great year last season. He just keeps going. The comparison is Tom Brady.”
It’s worth remembering that Crosby grew up cheering for the Montreal Canadiens – a team he’s been linked to in trade speculation. The Penguins’ recent shake-up, including replacing veteran coach Mike Sullivan with rookie head coach Dan Muse, hasn’t exactly screamed “win now.”
“We want Sidney to hopefully be in the playoffs every year,” Brisson added. “We want him to hopefully win another Cup or two.”
Crosby himself says he wants “to compete for as long as I can.” While most insiders still think he’ll retire a Penguin, it seems the door isn’t completely closed on other possibilities.
After all, three Stanley Cups and two decades of memories don’t change one simple fact: The clock is ticking on one of hockey’s greatest careers.
