Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby Close to Extension

A show of hands. Who was concerned about Sidney Crosby's next extension with the Pittsburgh Penguins?

The captain's future in the Steel City suddenly appeared uncertain after a season (2024) in which the franchise failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth time in his Hall of Fame career.

The fanbase cried out that trading him was necessary to help rebuild the future and that he deserved to win another championship. Then, there were the people who never wanted to see him wear another sweater and retire as a Penguin like his mentor, Mario Lemieux.

On Monday morning, news broke from the Atheltic that it appears that Crosby is staying in Pittsburgh on a multi-year extension:

Although there are no further details about a salary or term, the Penguins front office, led by General Manager Kyle Dubas and Crosby's agent Pat Bisson, seem to be close to an agreement, securing the team's best player's future in black and gold.

After a quieter off-season with just a handful of depth signings, Pittsburgh maintains one of the oldest lineups in the league and hasn't competed for the Stanley Cup since 2022. 

Keeping Crosby in the organization signals that ownership and management still believe their contender window is open and will continue building around their long-term captain.

By announcing an extension any day now, the Penguins will put to bed any future trade rumors and avoid a media circus all season long, as Crosby will be a free agent in July 2025.