Daniel ChavkinThu, April 30, 2026 at 2:50 AM UTC·3 min readWill Sidney Crosby retire? What Penguins captain has said about NHL future after first-round playoff exit originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Pittsburgh Penguins entered the playoffs hoping to make another playoff run for captain Sidney Crosby, but that came crashing down as the Penguins fell to the Philadelphia Flyers in six games during the first round.
As Crosby has been in the NHL for over two decades, it's fair to wonder when he will decide it's time to retire. Crosby just played in the Olympics for likely the final time, but returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2022 after three years of missing the postseason.
With the Penguins' season over, all eyes turn to Crosby's future and how the organization will handle his final years in the NHL. Here's what Crosby has said about retirement.
SN's NHL HQ: Live NHL scores | Updated NHL standings | Full NHL schedule
Crosby still has a year left on his contract and will likely return for the 2026-27 season for another year with the Penguins. Crosby played in 68 games this season but still produced 29 goals and 45 assists for a total of 74 points, leading Pittsburgh back to the playoffs for the first time in a few years.
Crosby has not acted like someone ready to retire. When addressing the possibility that Alex Ovechkin retires this offseason, the Penguins captain spoke as if he will return next year.
"It would be so weird if he’s not around anymore," Crosby told The Athletic about Ovechkin.
Before the season began, NHL insiders believed it was more likely that Crosby could be traded than retire this year, although that was when the Penguins were not expected to make the playoffs.
"I know that if all my energy isn't towards what it needs to be, then I'm not giving myself the best chance for it to be successful," Crosby said about trade possibilities, via ESPN. "If it ever came to that point, I would discuss it, but I don't feel like I'm there."
Throughout his career, Crosby has been a fairly private person who has kept big decisions to himself before announcing them on his terms. The same will likely be the case with his retirement decision.
The Penguins' resurgence this year likely gives Crosby hope that Pittsburgh can win one more Stanley Cup title before he steps away from the game. Even with a disappointing first-round showing, Crosby doesn't seem ready to enter the next phase of his life.
Crosby is finishing the first season of a two-year, $17.4 million extension that he signed with the Penguins in 2024. Therefore, Crosby has one year left on the contract worth $8.7 million before being set to hit free agency in the Summer of 2027.
That contract also includes a full no-trade clause, giving Crosby full control over his future. Therefore, Crosby is likely to finish out his contract before making a decision about retirement, barring any surprises.
Crosby's long-time teammate Evgeni Malkin will be a free agent this Summer, but veteran defensemen Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang are signed through 2027 and 2028. respectively. The Penguins are set to at least try and compete with their veterans next year.
Crosby is 38 years old and will turn 39 in August before the start of the 2026-27 season. The Penguins captain has been in the league for 21 years, all with Pittsburgh, winning three Stanley Cup championships and winning the Hart Trophy twice.