Anticipation that Sidney Crosby won’t re-sign on July 1st explained

The earliest the Pittsburgh Penguins can open contract extension talks with star captain Sidney Crosby is July 1st. On Deadline Day, the superstar voiced his frustration with general manager Kyle Dubas shipping Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes. On top of that , the GM is likely to make more moves will that won’t please Crosby.

And so the frustration from Crosby led pundits to hint at rumours of No. 87 looking to be traded or sign elsewhere, with a Stanley Cup contender, for another chance at the championship before hanging up the skates. Chatter has even linked him to his best buddy Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche in a very Ray Bourque scenario.

However, Rob Rossi of the Athletic is adamant that Crosby will remain and re-sign in Pittsburgh this summer, but made sure to point out that there will be a very plausibility explanation if ever the Pens’ captain does not re-sign right away on July 1st:

“If an extension isn’t announced on July 1, it’ll only be because Crosby might still be shrugging off another disappointing season by vacationing in Europe.”

However, you just know that the longer it takes Dubas to get Crosby’s signature on a new deal, the more quesions overs his future in Pittsburgh will emerge in the media and by fans on social media. I can’t even begin to imagine if an agreement isn’t reached before training camps open in September!

Rossi believes Crosby could ink a three-year extension at $10 million annually, making sure the captain is still around to help shape the next success Penguins team.

“The point is that Crosby isn’t going anywhere else to play NHL games.”

However, I’m sure Dubas will need to meet with Crosby and his agent Pat Brisson ahead of July to sell his vision of the Penguins’ future.

As of right now, Crosby remains focused on the current season though a shot at the playoffs seems far fetched with the Penguins currently in a fight for the last Wild Card playoff spot in the Eastern conference, sitting seventh in the Metropolitan division, nine points behind the Washington Capitals currently holding on to the coveted spot.

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