Crosby remains committed to Penguins: 'This is where I want to be'

Sidney Crosby attempted to put to rest any speculation that he might consider suiting up for an NHL team other than the Pittsburgh Penguins at some point in the near future.

"There's a lot of narratives out there, and I don't think a lot of those have come from me," Crosby told reporters while delivering season tickets to fans Monday, per The Athletic's Josh Yohe. "This is where I want to be. I love it here."

Crosby's agent, Pat Brisson, made headlines last week when he said it's "always a possibility" the superstar forward could play for another club if the Penguins continue to falter. Pittsburgh has missed the playoffs for three consecutive years, and most prognosticators project the club to finish near the bottom of the league in 2025-26.

Crosby admitted Brisson's comments surprised him.

"I think Pat knows how much I put into this, how much I love it. How much I want to be in the playoffs," Crosby said. "Whether those quotes were taken for what they were or if there was a different question put into those quotes, I don't know the backstory. Pat and I didn't have a conversation prior to him talking."

The 38-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down despite the Penguins' struggles. Crosby has tallied at least 90 points in each of the past three seasons during Pittsburgh's playoff skid.

He's set to enter the first season of a two-year extension signed prior to the start of the 2024-25 campaign. The contract includes a full no-movement clause.

A three-time Stanley Cup champion and two-time Hart Trophy winner during his 20 seasons in Pittsburgh, Crosby ranks second in franchise history in points with 1,687, just 36 back of Mario Lemieux.