Florida Panthers star on contract negotiations: ‘I’m really optimistic it’s going to get done’

LAS VEGAS — Sidney Crosby might not be in a rush to sign a contract extension with the Pittsburgh Penguins. But the 37-year-old captain, whose current deal expires after the 2024-25 season, also expects a deal to get done before the end of training camp. “I’m pretty optimistic it’s going to get done,” Crosby said at the NHL/NHLPA Player Media Tour in Las Vegas. “It’s been really positive. Hasn’t been a difficult process.” Crosby’s words should come as a sigh of relief to Penguins fans, who might have been worried that this could be Crosby’s last year in Pittsburgh. Instead, it looks like he plans on finishing his career with the Penguins — whenever that might be.

According to various reports, the Penguins had previously offered Crosby a three-year extension. Though based on his production last year — he tied for 12th in NHL scoring with 42 goals and 94 points last season — an even longer deal might also make sense. “You don’t really know the trajectory of everything and how you’re going to feel mentally, physically,” Crosby said of his longevity. “All you can do is really just each year evaluate it and kind of go from there. But I think that when you get to this degree, you recognise that’s more of a reality with every year you play. You understand that. But I believe you just check in with that throughout the year, or every year, and Crosby expressed his excitement for training camp, stating, “That’s how I look at it. But I feel really good. I’m excited about going to training camp as I was my first year. I think the passion and that sort of thing is all there. So as long as that’s there, then you want to put in the work and do everything that it takes to be successful. And hopefully it can be at least a few more.” While Crosby appears to be slowing down with age, the Penguins’ championship window has been closed.

“We’ve been right there the last couple of years,” said Crosby. “We finished really strong. I think we all felt pretty good about hanging in there the way that we did. I think we’re just hoping that we can be a little more consistent in a few areas andhopefully that’ll get us into the playoffs.“

Some teams seem like they’re very committed to going young and totally rebuilding. Other teams, they use a different word; they say retool.” Whether it’s a retool, rebuild or reset, it all starts with Crosby, who has been a member of the Penguins since 2005. It’s a scenario that doesn’t look like it will be changing anytime soon.