Penguins' Sidney Crosby Opens Up About His NHL Future: 'It's Hard'

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby might not have a contract signed past next July but he will play his 20th NHL season with the franchise starting next October.

On top of the ongoing negotiations to sign a contract extension, questions have naturally arisen about how much longer the future Hall of Famer plans to play.

Crosby, already 37 years old, was asked about that on Monday, September 9, at the NHL North American Player Media Tour in Las Vegas and addressed the topic sharing some thoughts on his mindset entering the final chapters of his career.

“It’s hard,” Crosby said when asked about a retirement date. “You don’t really know the trajectory of everything, how you’re going to feel mentally and physically. All you can do each year is evaluate it and go from there.

"When you get to this point, you understand it’s more of a reality with every year you play. You kind of check in with that, through the year, every year, evaluate it.”

While Crosby acknowledged Father Time's presence and the reality of aging, he didn't sound like someone ready to hang up his skates any time soon.

“Right now, I feel really good," Crosby said. "My body feels good. I have the same passion as I did when I came in the League to play.

"So, hopefully that’s something that can help me continue to play and play at a high level.”

Crosby is entering the final season of a 12-year, $104.4 million contract, and despite the team’s recent playoff struggles, he remains "optimistic" about the franchise's short-term future and reaching an agreement for an extension to stay in Pittsburgh.

After coming off a 42-goal, 94-point campaign, the Penguins captain is showing no signs of slowing down and committed to the only franchise he's ever known.

“I think something will get done,” Croby said regarding his new contract. "It’s just a matter of, at my age, just trying to figure out, I think, how many years? It’s hard to project at this point. It’s kind of a year-to-year thing."

Related: NHL Analyst Hints At Penguins' Sidney Crosby's Short-Term Future