While the Pittsburgh Penguins get set to celebrate the brief return of franchise legend Marc-Andre Fleury, the roadmap is slightly more complicated with fellow three-time champion Sidney Crosby.
Noise about a potential move away from the only franchise he’s ever known has steadily grown as Crosby has maintained his strong level of play heading into his age-38 season.
For Crosby, who’s entering his age-38 season but has remained productive through his mid-to-late thirties, noise about a potential move away from the only franchise he’s ever known has steadily grown.
Agent Pat Brisson said last week that he believes Crosby, whose contract expires after next season, “should be playing playoff hockey every year” in an interview with The Athletic.
But the Penguins appear to face an uphill climb to the playoffs after finishing last season with a 34-36-12 record.
$el.after( unescape("%3Cscript src=\"" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\" %3E%3C/script%3E") );
$( document ).one( 'ready', function() { $( "#video_container-915767" ).SNPlayer( { bc_account_id: "1704050871", bc_player_id: "JCdte3tMv", //autoplay: true, //is_has_autoplay_switch: false, bc_videos: 6379517173112, is_has_continuous_play: "false", section: "", thumbnail: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/6379517173112-1024x576.jpg", direct_url: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/not-the-game-i-know-crosby-not-interested-in-playing-for-tanking-team/" }); });
Still, general manager Kyle Dubas made it clear that he doesn’t intend to rush into a move.
“I have a friend … he’ll often say that ‘shortcuts cut long runs short.’ … I didn’t take from Pat’s comments that he necessarily disagrees with where we’re at,” Dubas said. “I talk to Pat daily, if not twice daily, about all his clients on our team, which we have plenty … I think he’s entitled to make whatever comments he wishes.”
The Penguins have missed the playoffs for three straight seasons on the heels of a 16-year post-season run.
Dubas is trying to toe the line between re-tooling and putting together the best possible roster around Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
The goal is clear — Pittsburgh wants a return to meaningful hockey.
But whether or not that involves the franchise’s longtime captain is less so.
“We can’t alter the course that we’re on — which is to bring the team back into a team that can contend for the Stanley Cup year in year out — because of what different media members may want, where they may want to see Sid play, different things of that nature,” Dubas said.
“We have to focus on what’s right for the Pittsburgh Penguins, regardless of any sort of commentary or things that are said in the media, we can’t change that. So this is our sole focus. I knew when signing up for the job that this was likely going to be a part of it and it doesn’t deter us from the task at hand.”
Bengali (Bangladesh) · 
English (United States) ·