When a player gets older, retirement talks are normal. But the main thing is what the player wants. Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is also in this same situation now.

Sidney Crosby has responded to growing talk about his future in the NHL. In an interview with The Athletic’s Josh Yohe, he said the retirement is not coming soon, even though he is in the final stage of his contract.

“Not at all,” Crosby said when asked about the retirement. 

Crosby emphasized his desire to extend his NHL career, saying he wants to keep playing as long as possible physically.

“I definitely want to keep playing for as many years as possible,” Crosby said. 

He even said it would be nice to play for five more years. It shows he still has a lot of gas and a lot of hockey is left in him.  The Penguins captain has only one year left on his deal, which ends on July 1, 2027. Because of this, many people have started asking if the 38-year-old star is close to the end of his career.

Crosby prefers one-year contracts for flexibility with Pittsburgh. He says it helps team cap management and is not about retirement plans.

“It’s pretty obvious why I would just go year to year with the contracts,” Crosby said. “At the end of the day, I’m just going to do what’s best for the team. It’s got nothing to do with how long I want to play. It’s not like that at all.”

Sidney Crosby will turn 39 in August, but he feels he can still play at a high level for more years. Also, he does not have any fixed retirement plan yet.

Sidney Crosby and the Penguins’ Team Future Impact

The Penguins are in a transition phase with an aging core of Crosby, Malkin, and Letang. The team’s future is not fully clear yet. Because of this, Crosby’s decision about staying or retiring may depend on how the team rebuilds and what direction the franchise chooses next.

With the Penguins in a transition phase, losing all core players together could make rebuilding more difficult. If Crosby stays longer, he can guide younger players and bring stability to the team. An experienced player also adds calmness in the locker room. 

His decision on a year-to-year contract may depend on the team's development. If the team builds a strong core, he may eventually leave, which could benefit both him and the franchise.

“I’m saying year to year based on contracts,” Crosby said. “It just seems to make sense. I mean, it could change. We’ll see.”

Sidney Crosby ended the 2026 season with 29 goals and 74 points in 68 games. He helped the Pittsburgh Penguins reach the playoffs. The Penguins later lost in the first round to the Philadelphia Flyers. Crosby scored five points in six playoff games.

He is currently playing for Team Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Championships in Switzerland. 

Read more at the NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi