Crosby Crossroads Could Change Extension Plans With Penguins

The belief is that Crosby has no intention to leave the Penguins and he’s not asking for a trade, but there is concern he’s not happy. The expectation seems to be that any slam-dunk plan to finish his career with the organization is not a slam dunk any longer. He’s not abandoning ship per say, but one insider thinks Crosby may change his contract extension negotiation plans to keep his options open.

Will Crosby Sign a Flexible, Short-Term Extension With the Penguins?

If the team is headed toward a rebuild, Crosby might want to set himself up to have the best options down the line, including moving to a contender if the Penguins go a different direction.

Friedman notes:

Crosby’s earned the right to do what he wants, but, after Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin signed for term, I don’t see him walking away without giving the front office a chance to turn things around. I’ve said this on the pod, but my guess is they offer him two or three years at $10.5M-ish and we go from there. 

On the surface, this doesn’t offer anything new compared to speculation that was already out there — a short-term deal was more likely than a long-term one. But, some are wondering if Crosby will leave himself outs in any new negotiations. He’s got plenty of game left, and his contract will likely include trade protection, but a shorter-term deal of three years or less makes it easier for a contender to invest in Crosby in a trade.

If he signs too long an extension, it could limit the number of clubs willing to bring him in at a $10.5 million salary. But, if he’s on a short-term deal, salary retention becomes an option in a couple of years, should both the Penguins and Crosby see it as a good time to move on.