NHL Rumors: Insider reveals Sidney Crosby's thoughts on next Penguins contract

Modified Aug 08, 2024 16:26 GMT

Sidney Crosby recently turned 37-years-old. He has been a key player for the Pittsburgh Penguins for 19 years. Drafted first overall in the 2005 NHL Draft, Crosby has led the Penguins as captain since 2007. During his career, he helped the team win three Stanley Cups in 2009, 2016, and 2017. Crosby is widely regarded as one of the best NHL players of the 21st century.

As Crosby enters the final season of his current contract, there’s speculation about his future with the Penguins. Rob Rossi of The Athletic reports that Crosby and the Penguins are confident a new contract will be signed. Both the team and multiple league sources believe Crosby will stay in Pittsburgh.

At the same time, Crosby is considering how long he wants to keep playing. A source close to Crosby mentioned that he doesn’t want to put the Penguins in a tough spot by signing a long contract he might not finish. Rossi writes:

"He is unsure exactly how long he wants to keep playing and “doesn’t want to put (the Penguins) in a bad spot” if he signs a longer deal and doesn’t play it out in full, a source close to Crosby said."

Sidney Crosby's current deal has a cap hit of $8.7 million, but pays him $3 million in actual salary. He has been eligible to sign a new contract since July 1.

The Penguins missed the playoffs in the last two seasons after 16 straight appearances. Both Crosby and the team are carefully planning for the future. Crosby’s next contract will likely be a key part of that planning.

Sidney Crosby's excitement for the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off

Sidney Crosby is excited about the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, a international hockey tournament featuring participants from Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States. He will play alongside stars like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon.

"Obviously there is a lot of excitement getting to represent Canada best on best," Crosby said on July 23 via NHL.com "It's been a while since we've had the opportunity to do that. I think if you talk to all the guys who got named today, I'm sure they're all excited."

Crosby is eager to represent Canada again. However, he acknowledges the challenge of finding a replacement for goalie Carey Price.

“Goaltending, obviously, is one (position) that’s always going to be under the microscope for any team, but especially with it being Canada and with Carey having been there previously,” Crosby said.

Sidney Crosby discussed team strategies with MacKinnon, and Brad Marchand. Despite concerns about Canada’s goaltending, Crosby is confident about the team's chances and looks forward to the tournament.