Sidney Crosby Begins Record 22nd Season with Penguins
Sidney Crosby will open his 22nd NHL season on Wednesday when the Pittsburgh Penguins face the Philadelphia Flyers at Xfinity Mobile Arena. In doing so, the 39-year-old captain will become the longest-tenured professional athlete in Pittsburgh sports history, surpassing Pirates legend Willie Stargell, who played 21 seasons. He also enters his 20th year wearing the captain's 'C', extending his NHL record for longest tenure as captain. Crosby has been Pittsburgh's captain since May 31, 2007, when he was named at age 19 as the youngest captain in NHL history.
Crosby enters the 2026-27 campaign seventh on the NHL's all-time points list with 1,761 (654 goals, 1,107 assists). Last season he passed Steve Yzerman and Penguins icon Mario Lemieux. If he repeats his 74-point output from 2025-26, he would move past Marcel Dionne and Ron Francis into fifth place; a 90-point season would put him ahead of Gordie Howe for fourth. He has averaged at least a point per game in all 21 of his NHL seasons, an NHL record.
Contract Talks Continue Without Pressure
Crosby is entering the final season of a two-year, $17.4 million contract ($8.7 million AAV) signed in September 2024. Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said Monday that both sides are comfortable without a new deal in place before the season starts.
"It's always an open back-and-forth," Dubas said. "And I don't feel, from our end, that there's any real pressure to have it done by a certain date. We'll just continue to talk."
Crosby echoed that sentiment. "I'm comfortable with them having the conversations," he said. "I just want to focus on playing and they'll handle that." He added that predicting how his body will respond each season makes long-term commitments difficult. "I can't predict how I'm going to feel in January, so I'm not going to try," Crosby said.
Dubas noted that for players in their late 30s, the process becomes less about deadlines and more about ensuring they are comfortable with the team's direction and how they feel during the season. He expressed no concern about Crosby's physical condition given his preparation.
Production Expectations and Historical Climb
As Crosby enters his age-39 season, analysts are debating his expected output. Daily Faceoff's Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton discussed his over/under of 79.5 points. Hutton predicted 85 points, citing Crosby's conditioning and the offensive style of the Metropolitan Division. Yaremchuk chose 87, noting that even with a few missed games, Crosby should remain well above a point per game.
Crosby's 2025-26 performance—74 points in 68 games—demonstrated his continued elite play despite missing 14 games. The Penguins finished second in the Metropolitan Division and returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after a three-year absence. Pittsburgh's season ended in the first round against the Philadelphia Flyers.
A Pittsburgh Legacy Unlike Any Other
Crosby's record for longevity in Pittsburgh is remarkable given the city's deep sports history. Roberto Clemente, Honus Wagner, and Ben Roethlisberger each played 18 seasons. Crosby's teammates Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang are tied with Stargell at 21 seasons, but Crosby stands alone. His three Stanley Cup championships and consistent excellence have made him a constant in a city known for its storied sports figures.
Off the ice, Crosby's contract situation mirrors that of Malkin and Erik Karlsson, who are also in the final years of their deals. Malkin signed a one-year, $5.5 million extension in May 2026 to avoid free agency. The Penguins appear content to let Crosby's situation play out without a deadline, focusing instead on his comfort and the team's direction.
What's Next
Crosby's season opener against the Flyers marks the beginning of what could be another historic campaign. With 1,761 points, he is within reach of moving up the all-time list. Whether he signs an extension during the season or tests free agency for the first time in his career remains an open question, but for now, both Crosby and the Penguins are focused on the present. As the longest-tenured athlete in Pittsburgh history, Crosby continues to add to a legacy that may never be matched.
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