Another NHL rumor edition is about to air. The 2023–24 season is almost over, but the action is still picking up. When it comes to trades and free agents, there is a great deal to debate. The July 1st free agency period and the NHL Draft are quickly coming. While some teams are hoping for quiet negotiations, some major names may enter the market. The Pittsburgh Penguins are looking to keep things quiet about one of their best players in this edition of NHL rumors.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Pittsburgh Penguins Looking for Uneventful Talks with Star
Rumour: NHL.com Penguins writer Adam Kimelman said that the club and Sidney Crosby are hoping to keep contract talks quiet. Crosby is set to hit the free agent market on July 1, 2025 as an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2024-25 season. He can sign a contract extension on July 1.
Analysis: Despite his age, Crosby showed that he’s still a valuable part of the Pittsburgh franchise. The Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia native posted 42 goals and 52 assists for 94 points in 82 games. Pittsburgh captain did all he could in order to get the team into the post-season.
Crosby is entering the final year of a 12-year contract that saw him make $8.7 million per season. However, one wonders what his cap number is going to be with his next deal.
The Captain Still Makes it Happen
Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas is keeping things close to the vest when it comes to contract talks. Dubas was mum when talking to Kimelman earlier in the month at the scouting combine in Buffalo. Crosby is 10th all-time with 1,596 points (592 goals, 1,004 assists) and is eight away from 600. Dubas is going to make sure he can get a new deal for the future Hall of Famer.
However, it’s all a matter of making a deal work. Dubas does want to add younger players to go with Crosby, Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin. However, that doesn’t come cheap and Dubas may have to get creative in making things fit. Pittsburgh had to trade Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes in the off-season and that seemingly did not sit well with the Penguins captain.
It does seem that information about Crosby’s next deal is going to be hard to come by. Insiders are probably going to have to work a little bit harder to get information to fans thirsty for knowledge. However, secrecy is likely the name of the game until the home stretch.
Pittsburgh does have some talented players, but most of them are towards the back-end of their careers. Dubas sees that some fresh blood is needed and that started when the Guentzel deal was made.
Building a Younger Core
The Penguins GM did spend time talking to other general managers during the combine in Western New York. Dubas knows there may be some growing pains with some younger roster members. However, it’s likely to be necessary with the roster probably turning over.
This team does want to give Crosby one more honest run at another Stanley Cup crown. This is why the Penguins are still going to try to stay relatively competitive. It seems to mirror what the Washington Capitals are doing in trying to keep things together for Alex Ovechkin. Other teams that don’t have a superstar nearing the end of their career would have probably torn it down. However, Dubas is in a tough position.
Crosby does likely want to finish his career in the Steel City. A deal should probably get done some time barring disaster. It would be odd to see Crosby in another sweater, but it seems very unlikely.
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