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When the Pittsburgh Penguins were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season after a Game 6 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, there was much speculation that it could be the last game for the team’s long-standing core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.
Well, while it remains to be seen how the summer will go, Crosby has made it clear that he has no plans to retire from the NHL.
Crosby is currently in Switzerland playing for Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship and was asked by The Athletic. about the prospect of playing another five years.
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby waits for a faceoff during the third period of game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Philadelphia Flyers at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on April 27, 2026. (Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)
“Ha,” he said. “That would be nice.”
SIDNEY CROSBY REACTS TO THE FIRST PENALTY OF HER 21-YEAR CAREER
While spending another five years at the NHL level, even for one of the best to ever do it, when he turns 39 in August is a stretch, the Penguins captain definitely put an end to speculation that next season will be his last.
“Not at all,” Crosby said. “I said year in and year out, because of where the team is, it just makes sense, whether it’s our salary cap, who we come in and who we leave, just having that flexibility. It’s important.”
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby celebrates a goal by teammate Connor Dewar during the second period of game five in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Philadelphia Flyers at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on April 27, 2026. (Jeanine Leech/Sportswire Icon)
The Penguins had a surprisingly strong season in which they finished second in the Metropolitan Division. They also fought hard after going 3-0 against the Flyers and nearly forced a Game 7.
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And it wasn’t like Crosby was just traveling, either. He scored 74 points (29G, 25A) during the regular season and did so in just 68 games played, good enough for Crosby’s 21st season at a point-per-game pace.
Of course, next season, Crosby will enter the final year of his current contract and reiterated that he will evaluate where the team is before getting to work on a new contract with general manager Kyle Dubas.
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Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins collides with Travis Konecny of the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period of Game 2 in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in Pittsburgh on April 20, 2026. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
“Yes, I say year after year according to the contracts,” he explained. “It just seems to make sense. I mean, it could change. We’ll see. Kyle (Dubas) and I haven’t even talked about it. But I’ll talk to Pat (Brisson, his agent) and Kyle later this summer. We’ll talk about it and do what makes sense. If it makes sense to sign for a couple of years, then we’ll do it.”
So, especially when you take into account where the team was this year, it looks like Flyers fans like me will have to suffer through Crosby making our lives a living hell for at least a few more years.
