NHL Rumors: Penguins, Sidney Crosby Agreement ‘Imminent’

Sidney Crosby tallied 94 points in the 2023-24 NHL season, but the Pittsburgh Penguins failed to make the postseason for the second consecutive year.

The 37-year-old captain is entering the final year of his current 12-year contract and is extension-eligible, and according to several media outlets, the Penguins and Crosby should finalize a deal on the star’s birthday — Aug. 7.

Penguins insider Mark Madden of TribLive said on his “Madden Monday” podcast that he believes the deal will be completed this week.

“If he doesn’t, I think we can start wondering,” Madden said. “If he’s not signed, this is something that drags on all year. It’s gonna drive (Crosby) crazy, so he will sign the contract, just to avoid that.”

Most NHL players and executives are still enjoying their offseason before training camps begin in September, but Madded followed up his optimism with a little controversy.

“Honestly, if he doesn’t sign the contract, they should trade him this year,” Madden suggested. “If he doesn’t sign the contract and they start the season a mess from the beginning of training camp, I don’t want to see ‘Madden says trade Crosby.’ Because I’m not. I’m just saying that if Sid creates these heightened circumstances we’re discussing, well, that would be an extreme time. It might call for an extreme measure. But I do not see that coming.”

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Jason Mackey took a page from Madden’s positivity, before ultimately bringing in the negative angle.

“The next concern I hear about this actually getting done will be the first,” Mackey wrote on Monday. “But at the same time, if this is the most recent Crosby column you’ve read by Thursday morning, we might have problems. … If the lag is because there’s some sort of hiccup, well, that’s a much bigger and worrisome discussion.”

Crosby is second in franchise history in goals (592), assists (1004) and points (1596) behind only Penguins legend Mario Lemieux. His legacy includes three Stanley Cup championships, two Conn Smythe and two Hart trophies and two Olympic gold medals with Team Canada.