There has been no more impactful player for the Pittsburgh Penguins over the last 20 years than Sidney Crosby, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 NHL Draft in what became known as the “Crosby Sweepstakes.”
Crosby has firmly established himself not only as the second-best player in Penguins history—behind only Mario Lemieux—but also as one of the greatest to ever play in the NHL.
But there’s no denying he’s on the wrong side of 35, and he won’t play forever. He’s under contract for two more seasons, but what happens after it expires in 2027 is anyone’s guess.
Will Sidney Crosby Work for the Penguins?
What will Crosby do when his NHL career eventually comes to a close? Could he entertain the idea of becoming a Penguins coach—or even a player-coach—before it ends? NHL insider Elliotte Friedman thinks Crosby’s deep loyalty to the Penguins makes it possible, as he noted during a recent episode of his “32 Thoughts” podcast.
“This is going to lead to another round of, ‘What does Crosby think of this?’” Friedman said. “Are you sure? We know you’re loyal. We know you care about the Penguins as much as you care about anything. But are you sure?
“I feel he’s loyal to the logo. I can’t think of Crosby as a player-coach. I still think of him as an incredibly driven guy who wants to win more.”
It wasn’t long ago that Crosby signed a new extension with Pittsburgh, keeping him under contract through 2027.
“Just glad that it’s done, and I’m really happy to know that I’ll be here for a few more years,” Crosby said. “My last contract, I don’t think I thought about the possibility of still playing beyond that, so I’m just really happy that it’s worked out this way.”
Crosby has shown his loyalty to the Penguins, re-signing with the team even though they’re no longer the Stanley Cup contender they were for much of his career.
It’s a commendable trait for Crosby, who could have easily requested a trade to chase another Cup with a more talented team. Loyalty to one franchise—especially for a player of Crosby’s stature—is rare.
He appears willing to stick it out to the end—and could even find himself working for the organization not long after he hangs up his skates. Regardless of what Crosby decides when his career is over, he is forever immortalized in the hearts of Penguins fans everywhere.
