Crosby 'fairly optimistic' about Penguins extension

LAS VEGAS — Sidney Crosby would not know when the deal shall be signed, however the Pittsburgh Penguins captain can also be assured an settlement is not distant.

Talking on the NHL/NHLPA participant media tour’s North American leg Monday, Crosby mentioned he expects to ink a contract extension earlier than the group opens the common season on Oct. 9.

“I am fairly optimistic it is going to get carried out,” the three-time Stanley Cup champion mentioned in a ballroom on the glitzy Encore resort on the Las Vegas Strip. “I do not know what day particularly, but it surely’s been actually constructive. It hasn’t been a troublesome course of in any respect.”

Eligible to place pen to paper since July 1, Crosby is ready to enter the ultimate season of a 12-year, $104.4 million deal that carries an $8.7 million wage cap hit.

The Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, native made the playoffs in 16 consecutive seasons from 2007 by means of 2022, however he and the Penguins missed out the final two springs as they attempt to retool round an getting old core of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson.

Pittsburgh fell a degree wanting making it in 2022-23 earlier than lacking out by three in April.

“We have been proper there,” Crosby mentioned. “We completed actually sturdy. All of us felt fairly good about hanging in there the best way that we did. We’re simply hoping that we generally is a little extra constant in a couple of areas.”

He’s coming off a 42-goal, 94-point marketing campaign that noticed him end tied for twelfth within the league scoring race and is displaying no indicators of slowing down.

Crosby, 37, will enter 2024-25 simply 4 factors shy of 1,600 for his profession and was named one in every of Canada’s first six gamers for the 4 Nations Face-Off event in February — the closest factor males’s hockey has needed to a best-on-best event for the reason that 2016 World Cup of Hockey

“You do not actually know the trajectory of every thing and the way you are going to really feel mentally, bodily,” Crosby mentioned when requested how lengthy he plans to proceed enjoying. “All you are able to do is de facto simply annually consider it and go from there … I really feel actually good. I am [as] enthusiastic about going to coaching camp as I used to be my first 12 months. The eagerness and that form of factor is all there.”

The Penguins, nonetheless, do not seem near being a high contender to profitable one other championship. Normal supervisor and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas is making an attempt to stroll the road of staying aggressive with a nucleus on the flawed facet of 30, whereas on the similar time additionally trying to an eventual future that does not embody Crosby and Co.

Pittsburgh dealt star ahead and pending unrestricted free agent Jake Guentzel forward of final season’s commerce deadline regardless of being within the playoff hunt.

“[Dubas] has obtained to do what’s finest for the membership — that is his job,” mentioned Crosby, a two-time Hart Trophy winner as league MVP. “I have been round for lengthy sufficient to know that there is at all times challenges that include that, most likely much more so with our group. That is one thing that I am effectively conscious of. When he is taking a look at what he has to do, he is obtained to strategy it a sure approach. As a participant, I’ve to do the identical. That is simply hockey.”

The Penguins added forwards Kevin Hayes, Anthony Beauvillier, Cody Glass and teenager Rutger McGroarty this summer season, however the group that fell brief 5 months in the past stays largely intact.

Crosby mentioned he is assured a roster retool, reset or rebuild — no matter time period is used — on the fly is feasible.

“Some groups have been capable of undergo that transition somewhat faster or somewhat bit in a different way than others,” he mentioned. “It is undoubtedly attainable … as a participant, although, you at all times wish to win. That is why you play the sport.”