Sidney Crosby is optimistic about signing a new deal with the Penguins.
The star player, who turned 37 in August, once thought he’d retire before 40. Now, he’s more open to playing longer. “I don’t want to look too far ahead,” Crosby said on Sportsnet’s “32 Thoughts” podcast. “To predict that now is impossible, but I would say I’m more open to getting to that point [of playing at age 40].”
A couple of summers ago, Crosby urged the team to re-sign Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. They became the longest-tenured trio in North American professional sports history last October. Despite this milestone, the Penguins missed the playoffs for two years straight .
Rebuilding and Future Hopes:
Team president/general manager Kyle Dubas has started a roster rebuild for the upcoming season. Crosby wants to understand what separates playoff teams from those that don’t make it. “It’s not really a lot of fun watching the playoffs,” he admitted. “You want to find a way to get back there.”
DraftKings Sportsbook had the Penguins at +120 odds to make next spring’s playoffs as of early Wednesday afternoon. This has led some fans to wonder if Crosby might become a rental for another contender next year before re-signing with Pittsburgh in July 2025.
“The biggest thing when I think about our team is our culture,” Crosby said about their chances with their core players still intact.
Fans may feel anxious until an extension is confirmed by both sides because they care deeply about Crosby’s future with the team.
What do you think will happen?
