Crosby on Pending Extension: “I’m pretty optimistic it’s going to get

The talk of the summer for Penguins’ fans has been captain Sidney Crosby’s extension that has not happened yet.

Well, Pittsburgh, you can take a breath: It appears you won’t have to wait much longer.

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At the 2024 NHL Player Media Tour today, Crosby spoke openly for the first time this summer regarding the status of a contract extension before the season.

“I’m pretty optimistic it’s going to get done,” Crosby told reporters. “I don’t know what day, specifically, but it’s been really positive. It hasn’t been a difficult process at all. So I’m pretty optimistic that something will get done.”

Many fans and media expected a contract to be finalized as early as July 1, the first day Crosby became eligible to sign an extension. When July 1 passed, then August 1, then September 1, there was some chatter about whether or not Crosby was entirely certain about staying in Pittsburgh for, presumably, the remainder of his career.

Just a few days ago, Sportsnet and HNIC’s Elliotte Friedman reported on his 32 Thoughts Podcast that Crosby could be “coming to grips” with Pittsburgh potentially not being competitive anymore and needed time to ponder his future:

Of course, this sent Hockey Twitter into a firestorm, and talk of the captain moving to greener pastures was reignited.

But the story has always remained the same: Crosby wants to be a Penguin, and he wants to remain with one team his whole career.

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