Pittsburgh Penguins v Seattle Kraken — Sidney Crosby discloses if Jake Guentzel's uncertain future will affect his decision to re-sign with Penguins

Sidney Crosby discloses if Jake Guentzel's uncertain future will affect his decision to re-sign with Penguins

Modified Mar 08, 2024 19:07 GMT

Jake Guentzel has been an incredible asset to Sidney Crosby. Not only has he been the most productive winger throughout Crosby's career, but he has also played a significant role in elevating Crosby's performance on the ice.

However, it seems the partnership between the two might be ending soon. Guentzel, 29, is in the final year of his contract with the Penguins and has been sidelined due to an upper-body injury since mid-February.

Despite his injury, Guentzel is still highly sought after by other teams as the March 8 deadline approaches, with many suggesting he's likely to be dealt by the Pens during the deadline.

In an interview with The Athletic, Sidney Crosby acknowledged that the decision regarding Guentzel's future is important for both sides:

"Obviously, it’s a big decision for both sides. That’s something that’s out of my control. But I don’t think that affects how I view things.

Sidney Crosby, who's eligible to sign an extension with the franchise on July 1, stated that he is not even thinking about it right now. Instead, the main objective is to get the Penguins into the playoffs:

“I’m not even thinking about extensions. Yeah. I’ve said that forever. But right now I’m trying to focus on getting into the playoffs.”

Playoff chances are slim for Sidney Crosby & Pittsburgh Penguins

One of the key factors in the Penguins' failure to qualify for the playoffs last term was a lack of consistency. This time, too, the club finds itself in a similar situation.

The Penguins are sixth in the Metropolitan Division with 64 points and 22 games remaining in the regular season. The only way from here to make it to the playoffs is via a wild card slot.

However, the Penguins are eight points behind the second-placed Tampa Bay Lightning (72 points) in the standings from the East Wild card. The possibility of making the playoffs is not completely gone, but they'll need to find some consistency going forward.