Sidney Crosby’s Contract Extension Remains a Summer Mystery for Pittsburgh Penguins
The ongoing uncertainty surrounding Pittsburgh Penguins superstar captain Sidney Crosby’s contract extension remains one of the biggest enigmas this summer. As Crosby enters the final season of his current deal, speculation continues to swirl among fans and analysts alike.
Penguins insider Rob Rossi of The Athletic reassured unsettled Pittsburgh fans in a piece published Wednesday, insisting there is no cause for alarm despite the lack of a signed extension. Rossi explained that Crosby, his agent Pat Brisson, and Penguins president of hockey operations/general manager Kyle Dubas are all comfortable with the current state of negotiations.
“I made a few calls to follow up, and the only real news — perhaps another subjective term — is that all parties (Crosby and his agent, Pat Brisson, and Penguins president of hockey operations/general manager Kyle Dubas) were comfortable enough with where the contract negotiations stood that everybody felt comfortable going about summer plans such as taking holidays and enjoying a bit of downtime,” Rossi noted. “Nobody from the Penguins’ hockey side is worried about Crosby eventually putting ink to paper. This is not to suggest some folks who deal with season-ticket holders/corporate partners aren’t sweating until he does.”
Last month, it was reported that Crosby’s representatives and the Penguins were close to confirming a multi-year agreement. This news came despite Pittsburgh missing the playoffs for two consecutive years and appearing to be in the early stages of a necessary roster rebuild ahead of Crosby’s 37th birthday, which he will celebrate next Wednesday. As of Thursday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Penguins at +120 odds to make the playoffs for the 2024-25 season.
“Crosby has never waited anywhere near this long in an offseason to re-up with the Penguins,” Rossi continued. “It’s also true that he has a birthday approaching and he has a history of attaching importance to the day he was born; he wears No. 87 and has played on an $8.7M cap hit because his birth date was Aug. 7, 1987. Read into that last sentence what you will.”
While logic suggests that Pittsburgh’s championship window with Crosby, center Evgeni Malkin, and defenseman Kris Letang has closed, there is no indication that Crosby has had a change of heart about wanting to finish his career with the Penguins. Crosby, a living legend and club icon, has earned the right to take his time in declaring how he will conclude his Hall of Fame career.
However, if August 7 comes and goes without an announcement from the Penguins about a contract extension, it may raise questions about Crosby’s true feelings regarding the direction of the franchise that no longer appears close to winning a fourth Stanley Cup under his leadership.
