NHL players predict where Penguins' Sidney Crosby will play after 2025-26 season

A Pittsburgh Penguins side that was expected by many to finish the 2025-26 season near the bottom of the overall NHL standings continues to be one of the league's top surprises and would be a playoff team if the postseason began on Dec. 9. 

Nevertheless, Sidney Crosby's future beyond next spring remains a top storyline hovering over the Penguins. For an article published by The Athletic on Tuesday, roughly 120 NHL players were polled regarding multiple subjects, including where they think Crosby will call home next year. 

A majority of NHL players think Sidney Crosby will do this

73.7 percent of players who responded said they believe Crosby will remain with what's been his only club since he made his NHL debut in October 2005. He is currently under contract through the 2026-27 season. 

"I think he's a pretty loyal (guy) and seems like a guy who's going to spend his whole career in one place," one player said about Crosby. "There's also been greats who move on and play in other spots, but just the way he comes off and presents himself, he seems like a guy who's going to be in the same spot forever. And there's the superstitions, too. He seems like a pretty superstitious guy."

Back in the summer, Crosby's agent hinted that the three-time Stanley Cup champion could at least consider joining an advertised contender if the Penguins were a last-place team around the start of the Winter Olympics. While plenty can happen between now and early February, 14-7-6 Pittsburgh seems to have legitimate staying power.

For what it's worth, the Penguins placed star center Evgeni Malkin on injured reserve Tuesday with an upper-body injury.

"The way Pittsburgh's playing and with a couple of the prospects they have, I think he'll stay in Pittsburgh," a different player said about Crosby. "If he wants to come to (my team), he should feel free to."

Some players think Sidney Crosby could go where? 

For years, rumors have linked Crosby with the Colorado Avalanche and the Montreal Canadiens. Crosby is close with Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon, and the 38-year-old grew up a Canadiens fan. 12.7 percent of players who responded said they think Crosby will be with Montreal next season, while 11.9 percent named the Avalanche as Crosby's next NHL home. 

"If it's Pittsburgh, that's still cool," one player said in response to the Crosby question. "But he's so many players' favorite player growing up, I don't want to see him die on the hill just because he wants to play with one franchise. I think it would be cool late in his career to see him go on another run."

For now, Crosby seems happy helping Pittsburgh win as many games as possible up through the NHL's Olympic break.