Penguins' Sidney Crosby's Lack Of Contract Creating Concern: Report

Pittsburgh Penguins fans and media alike are beginning to feel uneasy as Sidney Crosby, the face of the franchise for nearly two decades, enters the final year of his current contract without any signs of a new deal on the horizon.

Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette voiced his concerns in a column published on August 17, noting that the situation surrounding Crosby's contract extension is becoming increasingly "worrisome" with the lack of news.

“The Crosby situation is far more worrisome (than worrying about making the playoffs),” Mackey wrote. “Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas was busy this past week flipping nondescript draft picks with the Blues. Have to think there was available time to extend one of the most important athletes in our city’s history.

"Furthermore, if Dubas or Crosby wanted this done, it's hard to imagine how that doesn't happen."

Crosby, who turned 37 just over two weeks ago, is set to play the final season of his 12-year, $104.4 million contract , which he signed back in 2012 giving Pittsburgh a sizable hometown discount.

Given Crosby's consistent performance even past his mid-thirties, including scoring 42 goals and 94 points last season, the lack of movement on a new deal has reasonably led to speculation and concern.

Mackey questioned why a deal hasn't been reached yet, given the mutual respect between Crosby and the Penguins organization.

“Imagine Crosby calling Dubas and saying he wanted to stay and them not figuring out a way to make that happen," Mackey wrote. "Or Dubas saying the inverse—we want you here, you’re Sid, we’ll give you fair market value, you can’t possibly play anywhere else.”

Mackey's analysis underscores the growing anxiety in Pittsburgh. The longer the situation drags on, the more it seems that one side might not be as eager to secure a future together.

“The longer this goes, the more it worries me that one side doesn’t want to dance. It’s just hard to decipher which one that would be,” Mackey finished.

Related: Penguins Insider Reveals Possible Sidney Crosby Trade Package