Питтсбург Пингвинс багийн ахлагч 39 настай Сидни Кросби зодог тайлах бодолгүй байгаа бөгөөд шинэ улирлын бэлтгэлдээ эерэг хандлагатай байна.
NHL-ийн 22 дахь улирлаа эхлүүлэх гэж буй Сидни Кросби биеийн байдал болон тоглолтын түвшин сайн байгаа тул зодог тайлах талаар одоогоор бодох шаардлагагүй гэж үзэж байна. Өнгөрсөн улиралд 68 тоглолтод 74 оноо авсан тэрээр Питтсбург Пингвинс багийн төлөө үргэлжлүүлэн тоглох хүсэлтэй байгаагаа илэрхийлжээ. Багийн ерөнхий менежер Кайл Дубас болон түүний агент Пат Бриссон нарын хооронд шинэ гэрээний яриа хэлэлцээ хийгдэж байгаа ч тодорхой хугацаа тогтоогоогүй байна.
Кросби багийн шинэ эзэмшигч Хоффманы гэр бүлийн хүсэл тэмүүлэлд сэтгэл хангалуун байгаагаа илэрхийлээд, удаан хугацаанд хамт тоглосон Евгений Малкинтай дахин нэг улирлыг хамт өнгөрүүлэх болсондоо баяртай байгаагаа онцолжээ. Питтсбург Пингвинс багийн хувьд өнгөрсөн улиралд плэй-оффт шалгарсан амжилтаа ахиулах зорилготойгоор пүрэв гарагт сургалтын баазаа эхлүүлнэ.
Питтсбург Пингвинс баг мягмар гарагт ирэх улирлын өмнөх бэлтгэл ажлын хүрээнд залуу тоглогчдоо доод лигийн багууд руу шилжүүлснээ мэдэгдлээ. Үүнд Жордан Шаррон, Трэвис Хэйс, Пирс Мбуи, Бенетт Келли, Пейтон Кеттлс, Картер Кэйси болон Ксавье Вендт нар багтаж байна.
Дэлгэрэнгүйг эх сурвалжаас харах
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SEWICKLEY, Pa. — When Sidney Crosby again delivered Pittsburgh Penguins season tickets to a lucky family on Tuesday, one of the recipients joked that everyone is delighted Crosby is still playing at age 39.
Crosby, with a few more white hairs than last season, thought about the comment for a second before shrugging his shoulders and smiling.
The Penguins captain, who told The Athletic in May that he’d like to play a few more seasons, will receive age-related questions until the end of his playing days, whenever they may be. That’s what happens when you’re pushing 40 in a young man’s game.
Then again, he’s still thriving. Crosby, who posted 74 points in 68 games last season, will begin his 22nd NHL season in two weeks, when the Penguins start the season where the last one ended: in Philadelphia.
Sidney Crosby discusses contract extension
Josh Yohe
He was asked on Tuesday about his age and when he’ll know retirement is near.
“I think it’s a combination of everything,” he said, citing the potential for a drop in performance and health issues. “You talk to guys who are later in their careers, and I think it’s different for everyone. I don’t think you ever know until you get to that point. I’m guessing it’s your level (of play), how your body feels, a combination of things.”
He has no current concerns in those areas. He is a few months removed from his 21st consecutive season averaging a point per game or better, leading the Penguins to the playoffs for the first time since 2022. Throughout the second half of his career, Crosby has maintained relatively good health, though he suffered a couple of knee injuries last season. Entering training camp, which begins on Thursday, Crosby is in good spirits and good health.
“Overall, I feel pretty good,” he said. “I’m hoping it’s not something I’ll have to think about too much. That’s (age) just the reality of things. I’m happy with how I feel. We’ll just go from there.”
He’s also apparently happy with his contractual situation.
Crosby has only one season remaining on his contract. He said last week in Las Vegas that contract talks between Penguins president of hockey operations/general manager Kyle Dubas and his agent, Pat Brisson, have taken place.
As of now, he has not signed a new contract. Crosby signed his current contract two days before last year’s training camp.
The captain doesn’t sound as if he’s in a rush. He was asked if he’d like to sign a contract before the season begins, even if only to avoid the constant questions and speculation that will hound him if he enters the season just eight months away from potentially becoming an unrestricted free agent. Crosby, who has long said he never intends to play for another NHL team, was also asked if he expects a deal to be completed before the Sept. 30 opener.
“I don’t know,” Crosby said. “I’m going to let Pat and Kyle figure that out. I wouldn’t say there’s a hard timeline. It’s something that I’ll let them discuss. At this point in my career, it’s hard to project how long I’ll play for. We’ll see what happens.”
Crosby has never been hands-on in contract talks, and that won’t change: “I’m comfortable with them having the conversations. I just want to focus on playing,” he said.
Crosby is delighted that fellow longtime Penguins center Evgeni Malkin is back for another season. Crosby’s teammate since 2006 received a one-year deal in May.
“It’s not something you take for granted by any means,” Crosby said. “It’s pretty cool I’ve been able to play with him for this long. I’m really happy for him. He had an unbelievable year and I’m happy to see him get rewarded.”
While Crosby and Malkin have played together for two decades, the Penguins are going through a major change this season: new ownership.
The Hoffmann family officially replaced Fenway Sports Group as the Penguins’ majority owner this offseason. Crosby is impressed with what he’s seen.
“They seem great,” he said. “I haven’t had a ton of interactions, but the ones I’ve had, they seem like they’re super excited. They’re thrilled to be owning a team and to be in Pittsburgh, to be a part of everything here. That passion has been pretty apparent. It’s fun to be a part of, to be on a team with ownership like that. That’s huge.”
Crosby was notably upbeat during a surprisingly good season for the Penguins during the 2025-26 campaign.
“Expectations weren’t as high entering last year,” he said. “With getting to the playoffs, taking a step there, they’re probably a little bit higher having gone through that.”
Meeting with a family to deliver season tickets, as Crosby does every summer, caused him to reflect on the support he’s received in Pittsburgh. He’s not “Sid the Kid” anymore, but some things haven’t changed.
“It’s kind of the same, to be honest with you,” he said of the buildup to another season in Pittsburgh. “The excitement, the anticipation, it’s pretty much the same from when I started.”
Crosby always seems to enjoy this event, and this time was no different. Getting to know fans is an annoyance for some professional athletes, but not Crosby.
“It’s a little more personal,” he said. “You can get a better idea of how they (the families chosen) got into hockey, how they’re following it. Pittsburgh is a sports town.”
It’s also his town, and it has been for a very long time. How much longer will he remain in the NHL? Even he doesn’t seem quite sure. But it sounds like he’s not planning a departure anytime soon.
“Like I said, I feel good,” he said.
Notes
• Training camp begins for the Penguins on Thursday at the UMPC Lemieux Sports Complex.
• The Penguins announced on Tuesday that several prospects are assigned to their junior teams. Those players include Jordan Charron (Soo Greyhounds, OHL), Travis Hayes (Soo Greyhounds, OHL), Pierce Mbuyi (Owen Sound Attack, OHL), Benett Kelly (Prince Albert Raiders, WHL), Peyton Kettles (Kelowna Rockets, WHL), Carter Casey (Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL) and Xavier Wendt (Tri-City Americans, WHL).
