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Sidney Crosby’s Future in Pittsburgh Could Hinge on Teammate's Retirement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Jul 15, 2025 9:24 AM ET

Sidney Crosby’s future with the Pittsburgh Penguins beyond next season may depend on one thing: the status of Evgeni Malkin.

Malkin, who will turn 39 at the end of July, is entering his final year under contract with the Penguins. While he has not announced the date for his retirement, there's a chance he will complete his current deal and retire next summer.

According to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski, quoting sources close to Crosby during an appearance on "The Jeff Marek Show," Crosby's desire to stay in Pittsburgh is tightly linked to Malkin.

"I’ve heard from many people that kind of know him and know that situation tell me he’s there as long as Geno’s there," Wyshynski said. "So if Geno’s there for one more year — which it could entirely be that — then all bets are off as far as where Sid's going to end up."

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While Malkin has not set a date for his retirement, he's made it clear he would retire as a Penguin if the team doesn’t re-sign him next offseason.

“When I retire, it’s here,” Malkin told The Athletic in February. “This is my only team.”

Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said at the start of the offseason that the franchise has not thought a lot about Malkin's future, delaying any decision until deep into next season.

“I talked to Geno at the end of the year, after the year," Dubas said. "I get it, it’s the last year of his contract, and it’s been a topic of discussion. We’ll meet at the Olympic break this year and see where Geno’s at, and meet at the end of the year.”

Crosby, meanwhile, remains under contract through the 2026-27 season after signing a two-year, $17.4 million extension in 2024. He led the Penguins in scoring last season with 91 points in 80 regular-season games.

In the same podcast, Wyshynski linked Crosby to the Montreal Canadiens as a possible trade destination if he ever leaves Pittsburgh.

“I’ve long believed that Sidney Crosby will end his career in Montreal,” Wyshynski said. “If he’s gonna go anywhere and he’s gonna try to do something spectacular, (that's) being part of the legacy and lineage of the Montreal Canadiens.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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