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SPORTS Wednesday 11 september 2024
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Sidney Crosby says he’s ‘pretty optimistic’ about getting an

extension done with the Penguins

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Sidney World Cup of Hockey
Crosby doesn’t know when “You don’t really know the
the deal will be signed. trajectory of everything
The Pittsburgh Penguins and how you’re going to
captain is also confident an feel mentally, physically,”
agreement isn’t far away. Crosby said when asked
Speaking at the NHL/NHLPA how long he plans to con-
player media tour’s North tinue playing. “All you can
American leg Monday, do is really just each year
Crosby said he expects to evaluate it and go from
ink a contract extension there … I feel really good.
before the team opens the I’m (as) excited about go-
regular season on Oct. 9. ing to training camp as I
“I’m pretty optimistic it’s go- was my first year. The pas-
ing to get done,” the three- sion and that sort of thing is
time Stanley Cup cham- all there.”
pion said in a ballroom at The Penguins, however,
the glitzy Encore hotel on don’t appear close to be-
the Las Vegas Strip. “I don’t ing a top contender to
know what day specifically, winning another champi-
but it’s been really positive. onship. General manager
It hasn’t been a difficult and president of hockey
process at all.” operations Kyle Dubas is try-
Eligible to put pen to paper Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby looks on during the second period of an NHL hockey game ing to walk the line of stay-
since July 1, Crosby is set to against the New York Islanders, April 17, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. Associated Press ing competitive with a nu-
enter the final season of a cleus on the wrong side of
12-year, $104.4 million deal tool around an aging core pretty good about hang- slowing down. 30, while at the same time
that carries an $8.7 million of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, ing in there the way that Crosby, 37, will enter 2024- also looking to an eventual
salary cap hit matching his Kris Letang and Erik Karls- we did. 25 just four points shy of future that doesn’t include
No. 87 jersey. son. We’re just hoping that we 1,600 for his career and Crosby and Co.
The Cole Harbour, Nova Pittsburgh fell a point short can be a little more consis- was named one of Cana- Pittsburgh dealt star for-
Scotia, native made the of making it in 2022-23 be- tent in a few areas.” da’s first six players for the ward and pending unre-
playoffs in 16 consecutive fore missing out by three in He is coming off a 42-goal, 4 Nations Face-Off tourna- stricted free agent Jake
seasons from 2007 through April. 94-point campaign that ment in February the clos- Guentzel ahead of last
2022, but he and the Pen- “We’ve been right there,” saw him finish tied for 12th est thing men’s hockey season’s trade deadline
guins missed out the last Crosby said. “We finished in the league scoring race has had to a best-on-best despite being in the playoff
two springs as they try to re- really strong. We all felt and is showing no signs of tournament since the 2016 hunt.q

Kyle Larson expected to return to Indianapolis 500 for another

shot at ‘The Double’ in 2025

By JENNA FRYER really why I wanted to do Except by the time Lar- most his entire lead in the standings. Four drivers will
AP Auto Racing Writer it,” Larson told the AP last son arrived in North Caro- Sprint Cup standings. be eliminated from the
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — week. “I obviously wanted lina, the 600 had been Initially the points leader 16-driver playoff field fol-
Hendrick Motorsports and to compete in the India- stopped by rain and never at the start of Sunday’s lowing the Sept. 21 race at
Arrow McLaren Racing napolis 500, but more than resumed. He never turned race at Atlanta, Larson Bristol Motor Speedway.q
scheduled a Tuesday af- anything, I wanted to do a lap, received zero points plummeted to 10th in the
ternoon news conference ‘The Double’ and have a for the event, and it took
in which they are expect- chance at winning one of a prolonged dispute be-
ed to announce Kyle Lar- the two, or both, and I felt tween Hendrick officials
son will run the Indianapo- like I just didn’t get that op- and NASCAR before NAS-
lis 500 again in 2025. portunity.” CAR granted Larson a
Larson told The Associated Larson was a star at India- waiver to participate in
Press last week he wanted napolis Motor Speedway the playoffs despite miss-
to run the race again, talks in May, where he qualified ing a race.
were ongoing, and a de- fifth but a late-race speed- In the end, missing the
cision could be imminent. ing penalty took him out 600 did cost Larson as he
The initial deal was for two of contention and he fin- fell a single point short of
years but 2025 was an op- ished 18th. An hours-long beating Tyler Reddick for
tion and Hendrick Motors- rain delay in Indianapo- NASCAR’s regular-sea-
ports had a three-month lis pushed the Hendrick son championship a title
window to make the deci- camp into leaving Larson worth 15 additional play-
sion. at the 500 and they would off points. Larson could use
“I would love to because deal with the Coca-Cola those points after an early Kyle Larson, left, talks with Tony Kanaan following the
I didn’t get to do ‘The 600 in Concord, North Car- crash Sunday in NASCAR’s Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway,
Double’ this year. So that’s olina, later. playoff opener erased al- Sunday, May 26, 2024, in Indianapolis.
Associated Press