NHL Rumors: Sidney Crosby, Penguins Close on New Contract; Trade 'Never Discussed'

The Pittsburgh Penguins are "closing in" on an extension for team captain Sidney Crosby, The Athletic's Rob Rossi reported.

Sources told Rossi that "team and player are confident a deal will be agreed upon and formalized soon."

Crosby is currently set to hit free agency after the 2024-25 season, but Rossi emphasized that the Penguins "never discussed" trading him or allowing him to hit free agency.

The reason an extension was not agreed to earlier this offseason was because Crosby wanted Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas "to address other offseason matters— specifically, potential trades and free-agent signings" first, Rossi reported.

Crosby, who turns 37 in August, last signed a 12-year contract worth $8.7 million per year in 2012. He scored 42 goals while adding 52 assists for 94 points in 82 games last season.

The Penguins have so far only made small adjustments in free agency by adding veteran forwards like Kevin Hayes, Anthony Beauvillier and Blake Lizotte and moving on from winger Reilly Smith after he was unable to click with Evgeni Malkin last season.

Crosby may have wanted Dubas to focus on these lineup adjustments, but the Penguins ultimately have no offseason priorities higher than re-signing the player who has led the franchise for 19 seasons.

Not only has Crosby remained a consistent point-per-game producer and one of the most reliable two-way centers in the NHL through two decades, but his role anchoring Pittsburgh's top line allows Malkin to slot in behind him on the second. That has given the Penguins a top six forward group that has remained a perennial threat even as the team's depth thinned since their last Stanley Cup run in 2017.

To consider trading Crosby would mean undergoing a full rebuild and aiming for a tumble to the bottom of the standings and a top draft pick.

With Crosby re-signed at least through the 2025-26 season alongside Malkin and defensive stars Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson, the Penguins will instead be attempting to once more make the playoffs next spring after two near misses over the last two seasons.

Crosby's extension will likely mean more than just him playing out the next two seasons with the Penguins. Rossi reported that sources say Crosby "reaffirmed to Dubas what he has repeatedly stated publicly— that he wants to finish his career with the Penguins."

Rossi reported that a team and league source called the upcoming deal "a commitment to Pittsburgh."

Crosby, the No. 1 pick of the 2005 draft, leads all active players with 1,596 points and 1,004 assists.

After joining Wayne Gretzky this spring as the only NHL players to ever record at least one point per game for 19 seasons, it sounds like Crosby will remain in Pittsburgh as he looks to set a league record with his 20th point-per-game campaign in 2024-25.