That sparked a round of speculation over Crosby\u2019s future with the only NHL club that has ever employed him.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Crosby was emphatic about wanting to remain put.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of narratives out there, and I don\u2019t think a lot of those have come from me,\u201d Crosby said. \u201cThis is where I want to be. I love it here. I can\u2019t keep having to answer the same question over again because of these narratives. If people want to write about that or say that, that\u2019s fine. But I can\u2019t really control that. Obviously, when you lose and there\u2019s certain things that happen, I think it\u2019s normal for that stuff to come up. That\u2019s how I feel.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Crosby\u2019s comments on the matter to the Athletic were largely tame, Brisson\u2019s suggestions of a potential trade were far more striking.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s put it this way: It\u2019s always a possibility, you know?\u201d Brisson said. \u201cIt\u2019s been three years (the Penguins) haven\u2019t made the playoffs. It all depends on how Sid is going to be and how the team is going to do. I maintain the same position that I do believe that he should be playing playoff hockey every year. In my opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n
Crosby, 38, indicated he was surprised by Brisson\u2019s words.<\/p>\n
![\"8866958_web1_ptr-penscrosbya-091626\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/8866958_web1_ptr-PensCrosbyA-091626.jpg\"\/ "\\"8866958_web1_ptr-penscrosbya-091626\\"")
<\/p>\n
Seth Rorabaugh | TribLive <\/p>\n
Penguins forward Sidney Crosby delivered gifts for season ticket holders Cassie Montell and Jim Wiltman in Sewickley, Sept. 15, 2025.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI was,\u201d Crosby said. \u201cI think Pat knows how much I put into it, how much I love it and how much I want to be in the playoffs. Whether those quotes were taken for what they were or there was a different question that got put into those quotes, I don\u2019t know. I don\u2019t know the backstory. Pat and I didn\u2019t have a conversation prior to him talking when he did or addressing the media. I think he knows that it\u2019s not easy when you lose. And I think that there\u2019s probably a part of him that knows that having to answer questions like this time and time again \u2014 I was asked the same thing last training camp, I was asked the same thing after the season, I\u2019m asked it again \u2014 my stances hasn\u2019t changed but circumstances have.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I get I have to answer those questions. But I think he knows that it\u2019s tough having to go through that and the losing on top of it. So I think the unknown or the uncertainty combined with the losing, I think he probably feels for me a little bit. But I\u2019m not sitting here looking for anyone to feel sorry for me. That\u2019s the circumstances. I\u2019m more than happy to address it, but I think there\u2019s a ton of narratives out there that didn\u2019t come from me. So it\u2019s kind of hard to keep answering questions about all these hypothetical situations that didn\u2019t necessarily come from me. That\u2019s the best way I can answer it, really.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s fair to question how competitive the Penguins will be in 2025-26. Their offseason additions were minimal to a roster that finished well outside of playoff contention.<\/p>\n
And given the potential of landing superstar prospect Gavin McKenna, a forward with Penn State, with the top selection in next year\u2019s draft, the benefits of another poor season are obvious to just about everyone.<\/p>\n
After all, the Penguins have benefited greatly by that approach through the drafting of icons such as Mario Lemieux \u2014 who happened to drive through the neighborhood and exchange pleasantries during Monday\u2019s presentation \u2014 and Crosby.<\/p>\n
The Penguins\u2019 current captain has his own ruminations on how to approach the upcoming season.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s professional sports,\u201d Crosby said. \u201cYou play to win. That\u2019s how I view it. You\u2019re not going to convince me otherwise. If you\u2019re one of those people that believe that, then you\u2019re entitled to believe in that. But that\u2019s not why I signed up to play the game. That\u2019s not the game that I know. If you want to look at it that way, I guess you can. That\u2019s one perspective. But that\u2019s not really one that resonates with me. So it\u2019s kind of hard to understand that.\u201d<\/p>\n
What is easy to understand is Crosby\u2019s loyalty.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so grateful and thankful that I\u2019ve had the opportunity to play here as long as I\u2019ve had,\u201d Crosby said. \u201cAnyone who knows me knows what the city means to me and how special it is. I don\u2019t, I guess, take those rumors or some of those things lightly. <\/p>\n
\u201cLike I said, this is where I want to be. It\u2019s a special place.\u201d<\/p>\n