Sidney Crosby has until next summer to sign a contract extension with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but the fact he hasn't signed one yet has been the source of speculation.
Sidney Crosby's contract extension negotiations with the Pittsburgh Penguins have been a frequent source of speculation during this off-season.
Many observers expect the 37-year-old Penguins captain will stick with his long-time NHL club, perhaps on a three-year deal.
Some pundits expressed concern when Crosby didn't sign on the July 1 start date of free agency. However, a report by The Athletic's Rob Rossi on July 8 indicating the two sides were close to an agreement seemingly soothed those worries.
It was rumored the superstitious Crosby might sign on his birthday, Aug. 7. When that didn't happen, Rossi reported that it was never a target date for a contract signing. He again stressed that the two sides were confident of getting a deal done, citing sources saying the Penguins captain told his close friends he intends to stay in Pittsburgh.
Rossi's colleague Josh Yohe reported the same thing on Aug. 13. He believes there is no circumstance in which the Penguins risk losing Crosby but acknowledged it was odd that it was taking so long.
The Hockey News' Kelsey Surmacz wrote in a column that despite the panic and mass speculation that ensued after Crosby didn't sign on his birthday, there is no evidence to suggest he's headed anywhere else.
Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently noted “the weird amount of silence” regarding Crosby's contract talks, calling the situation “far more worrisome.”
Mackey suggested Crosby and the Penguins might be better off parting ways. He thinks the future Hall of Famer's best chance to win a Stanley Cup lies with another club. Mackey also felt it may be time for the Penguins to blow up their roster and start over. However, he doesn't envision either possibility will happen.
The cone of silence on Crosby's contract talks prompted some of Yohe's readers to ask if he wants to stick with the Penguins if they're no longer a Cup contender. They also wondered what a hypothetical trade might look like.
Yohe believes Crosby prefers to finish his career with the Penguins no matter what. As to what he might fetch in a trade, Yohe thinks it would be a 2025 first-round pick, a 2026 first-rounder, a top prospect and a young NHL player. The Penguins would likely have to take on some salary from the acquiring team to offset Crosby's contract.
It still seems that Crosby will sign an extension, perhaps by the start of training camp next month. Nevertheless, the longer this situation drags on the more questions will be raised and the more worried Penguins fans will be.
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