Watch: Young Sidney Crosby fan's adorable attempt to get No. 87's autograph from Penguins prospect

By Abhilasha Aditi

Modified Jul 10, 2024 11:30 GMT

At DICK'S Sporting Goods House of Sport, a young Sidney Crosby fan met Penguins prospect Brayden Yager. The Penguins shared a video of the moment on X (formerly Twitter). The kid hoped to get Crosby's autograph but found Yager instead.

The child asked:

"Where's number 87?"

Yager answered kindly:

"87? He's not here today."

Undeterred, the young fan praised Crosby as the best player on the Pens. Yager smiled and agreed, calling Crosby the best player in the world.

The child optimistically asked Yager to sign Sidney Crosby's name on his hockey stick. Yager kindly declined with a warm smile, explaining that it wouldn't be right.

Sidney Crosby close to new Pittsburgh Penguins contract

Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins are close to a new contract. He aims to end his career with the team that drafted him first overall in 2005. The deal could be about three years long, worth around $10 million each year. Due to Crosby's age, the contract will have specific terms. He has played a crucial role in the Penguins' success and has often taken less money to support the team.

The Penguins' GM, Dubas, pointed to Crosby's competitive drive and the team's goal to contend for the Stanley Cup, not just make the playoffs.

“The on-ice direction is simply we’re not looking to simply squeak into the playoffs,” Dubas said (via The Athletic). “It’s to return the team to become a contender as soon as possible.

“Can we do that this season? Can we do that next season? It’s hard to put a time frame on it. But this is obviously not a strip-it-down-to-the-studs situation here; the people in the room are too good for that,” Dubas added.

Despite recent playoff misses, Crosby remains committed to the team's future. He's been consistent, scoring over 40 goals last season and averaging a point per game for 19 straight seasons. Discussions between Crosby and the Penguins are currently going on, but there's speculation about Crosby joining the front office.

The Penguins are focused on being contenders and not just making the playoffs. Crosby is a top player who aims to break more records soon. The Penguins' ownership values Crosby's presence for team partnerships and future plans. Crosby might join the front office after retiring. He's in the last year of a long contract but prioritizes the team's other offseason needs.