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LAS VEGAS — Sidney Crosby doesn’t know when the deal can be signed.
The Pittsburgh Penguins captain can be assured an settlement isn’t 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 staff opens the common season on Oct. 9.
“I’m fairly optimistic it’s going to get achieved,” the three-time Stanley Cup champion mentioned in a ballroom on the glitzy Encore lodge on the Las Vegas Strip. “I don’t know what day particularly, however it’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 – matching his No. 87 jersey.
The Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, native made the playoffs in 16 consecutive seasons from 2007 by 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’ve been proper there,” Crosby mentioned. “We completed actually robust. All of us felt fairly good about hanging in there the way in which that we did. We’re simply hoping that we is usually a little extra constant in a number 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 exhibiting 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 don’t actually know the trajectory of every little thing and the way you’re going to really feel mentally, bodily,” Crosby mentioned when requested how lengthy he plans to proceed enjoying. “All you are able to do is absolutely simply every year consider it and go from there … I really feel actually good. I’m (as) enthusiastic about going to coaching camp as I used to be my first 12 months. The fervour and that form of factor is all there.”
The Penguins, nonetheless, don’t seem near being a high contender to profitable one other championship. Basic supervisor and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas is attempting to stroll the road of staying aggressive with a nucleus on the fallacious facet of 30, whereas on the similar time additionally seeking to an eventual future that doesn’t embrace 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 bought to do what’s finest for the membership – that’s his job,” mentioned Crosby, a two-time Hart Trophy winner as league MVP. “I’ve been round for lengthy sufficient to know that there’s all the time challenges that include that, most likely much more so with our staff. That’s one thing that I’m properly conscious of. When he’s what he has to do, he’s bought to method it a sure manner. As a participant, I’ve to do the identical. That’s simply hockey.”
The Penguins added forwards Kevin Hayes, Anthony Beauvillier, Cody Glass and teenager Rutger McGroarty this summer time, however the group that fell quick 5 months in the past stays largely intact.
Crosby mentioned he’s 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 a bit faster or a bit bit in a different way than others,” he mentioned. “It’s undoubtedly attainable … as a participant, although, you all the time wish to win. That’s why you play the sport.”
