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The Pittsburgh Penguins are "closing in" on an extension for team captain Sidney Crosby, The Athletic's Rob Rossi reported.
Sources told Rossi that "team and player are confident a deal will be agreed upon and formalized soon."
Crosby is currently set to hit free agency after the 2024-25 season, but Rossi emphasized that the Penguins "never discussed" trading him or allowing him to hit free agency.
The reason an extension was not agreed to earlier this offseason was because Crosby wanted Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas "to address other offseason matters— specifically, potential trades and free-agent signings" first, Rossi reported.