Sidney Crosby in ‘wait and see’ mode for plans beyond 2026-27
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 12: Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) during a game against the Washington Capitals on Sunday, April 12, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D. C. The game drew extra attention from fans, because it could be Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin's final NHL game in Washington.
(Photo by Peter W. Stevenson/The Washington Post via Getty Images) Sidney Crosby is under contract next season in 2026-27 to play for the Penguins. What comes after that will have to be determined at a later date.
“Just wait and see,” Crosby said on Friday about his future status during exit interviews . “I haven’t thought that far ahead, but we’ll just wait and see. ” That matches his approach from recently, Crosby waited two and a half months in the summer of 2024 to sign a two-year contract extension with the Penguins that covered 2025-26 and 2026-27.
He will be turning 40 years old shortly after this deal ends. Whether or not we see a 40+ year old Crosby playing in the NHL in 2027-28 is a bridge that the forward hasn’t come close to crossing yet this soon after a season comes to an end. Crosby finished his 21st season in Pittsburgh, 22 is coming up next year.
Year 23 isn’t assured, though it isn’t ruled out at this point either. Crosby would be eligible to officially sign another extension for 2027-28 starting in just a couple of months on July 1st of this year. It doesn’t sound like the long-time Pittsburgh captain is in any hurry to make that decision one year ahead of time.