This past May, Pittsburgh Penguins superstar captain Sidney Crosby revealed that he was “not at all” thinking about retiring after the 2026-27 NHL season.
While rumors about the Penguins possibly trading Crosby mostly quieted down after he helped the club complete a surprising trip to the playoffs this past spring, the fact that he is currently under contract
only through the upcoming season has sparked new conversations about his future.
On Monday, Penguins insider Josh Yohe of The Athletic shared an update on Crosby’s status.
When Penguins, Sidney Crosby will discuss his contract situation
“When I recently spoke with Crosby’s agent, Pat Brisson, he said he hadn’t discussed the contract with Crosby yet, indicating he was letting his most famous client enjoy his summer before getting back to business,” Yohe wrote. “Brisson said there’s an understanding that they’ll discuss the contract before summer is over. The Penguins’ first preseason game is Sept. 21.”
Crosby turned 39 years old back on Aug. 7, but he would unquestionably attract attention from would-be buyers if his camp made it known he was available. Per ESPN stats, Crosby led the Penguins for the 2025-26 regular season with 74 points (29 goals) that he recorded over 68 games.
That said, Yohe repeated that Crosby “has privately and publicly insisted he isn’t interested in playing elsewhere.” The three-time Stanley Cup champion has played only for the Penguins since he made his NHL debut in October 2005.
How many years will be attached to Sidney Crosby’s next deal?
According to Yohe, Crosby’s next deal will “likely” be for an additional “one or two” seasons. It also sounds like Crosby and the Penguins have an understanding regarding how future conversations will go.
“Crosby has never been one to push for as much money as he could get,” Yohe added. “These aren’t expected to be negotiations in the traditional sense — president of hockey operations/general manager Kyle Dubas is fully aware that Crosby is a living legend and is happy to have him in Pittsburgh for as long as possible. When the time comes, Crosby and Brisson will name their price and term, and the Penguins are likely to accept the demand.”
In short, Pittsburgh fans should expect Crosby to sign a deal before the Penguins open the regular season with a matchup at the rival Philadelphia Flyers on Sept. 30.
