Penguins' Sidney Crosby 'pretty optimistic' he'll sign contract extension soon

As the Pittsburgh Penguins approach the start of training camp, a major order of business has remained incomplete since July 1: extending the contract of captain and franchise icon Sidney Crosby.

Crosby is entering the final year of a 12-year deal worth $8.7 million annually signed in 2012 and has been eligible to ink an extension since the NHL’s free agency period began at the start of July.

But no such extension has been announced, raising questions as to whether the 37-year-old intends to position himself to finish a Hall-of-Fame career in Pittsburgh.

He more or less answered those questions Monday.

“I’m pretty optimistic it’s going to get done,” Crosby told reporters. “I don’t know what day specifically, but it’s been really positive, and it hasn’t been a difficult process at all. I’m pretty optimistic that something will get done.”

Crosby, who has kept a predictably low profile during the offseason, conducted an interview Monday with Professional Hockey Writers Association reporters as the NHL kicked off its annual media tour in Las Vegas.

Whatever deal Crosby ends up signing would be only his fourth NHL contract since he debuted in 2005-06.

Crosby played his first three pro seasons with an entry-level contract worth $850,000 annually. Then, in July 2007, he signed a five-year, $43.5-million extension with Pittsburgh.

That led into his most recent contract, also worth $8.7 annually.

As far as contract length or how long Crosby wants to continue playing, he was unable to offer specifics other than his thought process.

From a performance standpoint, Crosby has shown zero signs of slowing.

Last year, he appeared in all 82 games, leading the club with 42 goals and 52 assists.

In 2022-23, playing all 82 games, he finished with 93 points (33 goals, 60 assists) to again lead the Penguins.

“It’s hard,” Crosby said. “You don’t really know the trajectory of everything and how you’re going to feel mentally and physically. All you can do is really just, each year, evaluate it and go from there. I think when you get to this point, you understand (the end of your career) is more a reality with every year you play. You understand that, but I think you kind of just check in with that through the year or every year and evaluate it. That’s how I look at it.

“But I feel really good. I’m just as excited about going to training camp as I was my first year. I think the passion and that sort of thing is all there. As long as that’s there and you’re wanting to put in the work and do everything that it takes to be successful, then, hopefully, it can be a few more (years).”

Despite stellar individual campaigns from Crosby as a 35- and 36-year-old the past two seasons, the Penguins have failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs in both seasons, ending a 16-year streak.

The Penguins’ cast of characters hoping to break that drought will blend together familiarity and unknown.

Back with Crosby are fellow long-time Penguins and alternate captains Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.

Erik Karlsson prepares for his second season with the Penguins after being the centerpiece of a blockbuster trade with the San Jose Sharks, while dependable winger Bryan Rust is back, as is Michael Bunting, Pittsburgh’s key return player for traded winger Jake Guentzel.

President of hockey operations/general manager Kyle Dubas also has assembled some supplementary pieces, such as forwards Anthony Beauvillier, Cody Glass and Kevin Hayes plus blueliner Matt Grzelcyk.

Having fallen just short of the postseason for two straight years, Crosby has high hopes of getting back into playoff contention again this year.

“For me, personally, the way I look at it is if we can find some way to get over that hump and get into the playoffs where we haven’t and trying to use some of that momentum that we finished with last year, (that) would be great,” Crosby said.

“We finished really strong. I think we all felt pretty good about hanging in there the way that we did, and I think we’re just hoping we can be a little more consistent in a few areas. Hopefully, that’ll get us into the playoffs.”