Penguins' Sidney Crosby Exposes Talks that Convinced Him to Sign

Pittsburgh Penguins legend and captain Sidney Crosby will spend, at the very least, the next three seasons playing for the only franchise he's ever known.

The forward had a media availability on September 16 and shared some insights into the conversations with general manager Kyle Dubas that ultimately convinced him to sign a new two-year, $17.4 million extension with the team.

Crosby, who was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, explained that Dubas’ reassurances about the Penguins' focus on contending for the next few seasons were key to his final decision.

"I think that was reassuring," Crosby said. "Just based on what we discussed as far as there's still hunger from the organization and ownership to win and a commitment there.

"Missing the playoffs for a couple of years, not being in it, is difficult. You want to try to find every way possible to get back in there and make sure that we compete for the Stanley Cup. So, I think that was reassuring to hear, and that helped."

For Crosby, who has been a central figure in Pittsburgh’s three Stanley Cup championships, the conversations with Dubas were essential in solidifying his belief that the team was still dedicated to competing for titles, even after missing the playoffs for two consecutive seasons.

In the 2022–23 season, the Penguins narrowly missed out on a wild-card spot by one point, and in 2023–24, they fell short by three points.

Dubas, however, didn’t make any blockbuster moves this offseason. The private dialogue with the GM gave Crosby enough confidence in the direction of the club, convincing him to stay in Pittsburgh for a few more seasons.

From a personal perspective, Crosby said that he's looking forward to a competitive training camp, which he sees as an opportunity for the team to push itself and build momentum early on.

"This year is probably the most competitive (roster) that I've seen," Crosby said. "Mentally, I feel good, I still love the game and want to compete.

"I'm not gonna project too far ahead, but I'm gonna try to play as long as I can."

Related: Penguins Finally Announce Sidney Crosby Extension