Sidney Crosby, the Pittsburgh Penguins captain, is focused on playing year by year without considering retirement, even as he approaches his 37th birthday, and aims to continue contributing to the team while not worrying about the future.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is hitting a milestone soon. He’ll be celebrating his 37th birthday this August. Yet, retirement? Not really on his mind. “I don’t really think like that,” Crosby shared, fresh off the season’s close. He prefers a year-to-year approach, which has always worked for him. “There’s always a lot of factors.”
This spring, Crosby matched the legendary Wayne Gretzky. They both have 19 seasons under their belts, averaging at least one point per game. A feat, right? According to ESPN, Crosby was the lead scorer for the Penguins in the 2023-24 season. He racked up 42 goals, 52 assists, and even 10 power-play goals. “Obviously, at my age, there will be a lot of factors,” he admitted. Yet, he doesn’t let age dictate his game’s future. It’s all about performance for him.
Crosby’s contract? It’s got a season left. There were whispers of a trade when the Penguins hit a rough patch last winter. But Crosby? He’s loyal. He dreams of retiring with the team that’s seen him win three Stanley Cups. “Obviously, I’m going to talk to [Kyle Dubas],” Crosby said about a possible extension. “We’ll see.” It sounds like those chats with the president of hockey operations/general manager are on his to-do list.
Rob Rossi from The Athletic threw in his two cents. He believes the Penguins will do their best to keep veterans like Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang from enduring a rebuild. Crosby’s only promise? Leading the team back onto the ice this fall, especially after missing the playoffs twice in a row. “There’s no point worrying about four, five years from now,” Crosby concluded. He’s all about the here and now. That’s his game plan.
