Sidney Crosby hopes his time on the same team as Evgeni Malkin isn't over following the Pittsburgh Penguins' season-ending loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday.
Crosby, Malkin, and Kris Letang have played together since 2006. They are the longest-tenured trio of teammates in North American sports history.
"Honestly, it's something that we've probably just gotten used to, but I think they're like family. I think that's the best way to describe it," Crosby said postgame, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.
"We've had some great wins, some tough losses like this. Ultimately, though, that's a long time that we've played together. I'm so appreciative for the opportunity to be able to play with them as long as we have. Hopefully we can keep going."
Crosby is under contract with the Penguins through next season, and Letang is signed through 2028. However, Malkin is an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Malkin said in January he isn't ready to retire. The 39-year-old expressed a desire to play for Pittsburgh next season and said in March that he would speak to Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas after the playoffs, according to Wyshynski.
The Penguins have won three Stanley Cups during the Crosby-Malkin-Letang era but haven't won a championship since 2017 and haven't won a playoff round since 2018. This was their first postseason appearance since 2022.
Pittsburgh was defeated 1-0 in overtime Wednesday to lose the first-round series in six games.
