Connor Zilisch is headed to Hendrick Motorsports, as the powerhouse NASCAR team announced Monday it has signed the 20-year-old driver to a multi-year deal that begins with the 2028 season.

Zilisch, considered one of the sport’s most talented prospects, will drive the team’s No. 48 Ally-sponsored Chevrolet in NASCAR’s premier Cup Series, replacing Alex Bowman, who has already announced that the 2027 season will be his last as a full-time competitor.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, only that Zilisch and Hendrick had reached a “multi-year agreement” to join the Rick Hendrick-owned organization that has won more championships than any other.

“This is one of those moments you dream about as a kid,” Zilisch said in a statement. “Hendrick Motorsports has always represented the standard in our sport and being entrusted to help continue that legacy means everything to me.”

Zilisch began racing at 5, and it wasn’t long before he established himself as an emerging young talent. He moved from North Carolina at 11 to race go-karts in Europe, and his success there — winning a major race in Italy against a field that included current Formula One championship points leader Kimi Antonelli and winning the FIA Karting Academy Trophy in 2020 — seemingly put Zilisch on a path to F1.

But a lack of funding meant Zilisch had to pursue racing in a less expensive form of motorsport, so he turned his attention to NASCAR, and before long his ability caught the attention of numerous team owners. His stock only continued to climb in 2024 when he earned class victories in the prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring sports car races, then later that year won his debut race in NASCAR’s second-tier O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Last year, Zilisch won 10 O’Reilly races and the regular-season points championship.

Zilisch advanced to Cup full-time this season, driving for Trackhouse Racing. He has one top-10 finish in 24 starts and currently ranks 34th in points. He will continue to drive for Trackhouse through the 2027 season before moving to Hendrick.

Zilisch and Hendrick’s link has been anticipated for some time, the only question being when. But the answer to this question came into focus this spring as Bowman weighed his future. Hendrick identified Zilisch as a leading candidate to succeed Bowman should they need to fill his spot on its four-driver roster. When Bowman announced last month that he would return to Hendrick for one final season, it increased the likelihood that Hendrick would move to have Zilisch take his place.

“Connor is a truly gifted young racer,” Rick Hendrick said in a statement. “His talent behind the wheel is exceptional, but I’m even more impressed by the person he is. When someone with that kind of ability and character becomes available, you do everything you can to bring them into your organization. We have tremendous confidence in Connor, and we believe he’s the right driver to build on the legacy of the No. 48 Ally team for many years to come.”

PITTSBURGH — Much of this month’s Pittsburgh Penguins news has revolved around the stunning eight-year contract they gave to Ville Koivunen.

Soon enough, another contract will dominate the news.

Sidney Crosby is one year away from free agency. The longtime Penguins captain will count $8.7 million against the salary cap for the 2026-27 season and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2027. Only 36 days after that, he’ll turn 40.

When a similar contract situation unfolded for Crosby two years ago, he signed a two-year deal on Sept. 16, 2024, immediately before training camp began. We could be looking at a similar timeline this time.

When I recently spoke with Crosby’s agent, Pat Brisson, he said he hadn’t discussed the contract with Crosby yet, indicating he was letting his most famous client enjoy his summer before getting back to business. Brisson said there’s an understanding that they’ll discuss the contract before summer is over. The Penguins’ first preseason game is Sept. 21.

When I spoke with Crosby in May at the IIHF World Championships in Switzerland, he scoffed at the idea that retirement could be imminent.

“Not at all,” he responded when I asked if there was a possibility the 2026-27 season could be his last.

The smart money would be on Crosby signing a new deal sometime between now and the middle of September. That’s how it went before; that’s the timeline Crosby is comfortable with, and a new contract seems inevitable.

How many years will it be? Likely one or two.

“If it makes sense to sign for a couple of years, then we’ll do that,” Crosby said.

Crosby was in a notably good mood during the 2025-26 season, clearly enjoying the Penguins’ return to the postseason. All he wants is to win, and the Penguins finally started winning again last season.

The 39-year-old Crosby has never been one to push for as much money as he could get. These aren’t expected to be negotiations in the traditional sense — president of hockey operations/general manager Kyle Dubas is fully aware that Crosby is a living legend and is happy to have him in Pittsburgh for as long as possible. When the time comes, Crosby and Brisson will name their price and term, and the Penguins are likely to accept the demand.

Crosby made it clear in May that he’s willing to work with the Penguins on his salary and contract term before his current deal expires. He indicated that he would like to play for a few more seasons, health permitting. When the puck drops for opening night Sept. 30 in Philadelphia, Crosby will begin his 22nd season with the Penguins, the longest any athlete has played for a Pittsburgh professional sports team. There’s a real chance Crosby will have a new deal before that day.

The longer he goes unsigned, the more the noise will creep in. In 2024, before signing his current contract, rumors circulated about whether Crosby, whose contract includes a no-movement clause, could seek or approve a trade out of Pittsburgh. Those rumors grew exponentially last summer, when Brisson told The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun that Crosby could entertain a trade someday, saying, “Let’s put it this way, it’s always a possibility, you know?”

That was before the Penguins, who were expected to be among the NHL’s worst teams, made the playoffs last season. And time after time, Crosby has privately and publicly insisted he isn’t interested in playing elsewhere. He seems equally uninterested in dealing with daily questions about his contract if he enters the season unsigned.

Despite dealing with a knee injury suffered in the Winter Olympics and another knee injury that hampered him down the stretch of the regular season, Crosby produced 29 goals and 74 points in 68 games, his 21st consecutive season of putting up a point-per-game average or better.

Why the Penguins gambled on Koivunen

The eight-year, $32 million deal for Koivunen remains a hotly discussed topic among fans, and they’re not alone. Not everyone in the organization was thrilled with Dubas’ decision to give the unproven Koivunen a long-term deal.

However, the front office is extremely impressed with the summer Koivunen has had. He’s hit the gym in a big way, addressing his biggest problem: lack of strength. He was knocked off the puck with ease during his first full NHL season.

The Penguins love Koivunen’s ability to see the ice and distribute the puck. They also believe — not without some merit — that Koivunen was snake-bit in terms of scoring goals for much of his time in the NHL last season.

More than anything, analytics played a role in the Penguins’ decision to take a chance on Koivunen, according to team sources who spoke under the condition of anonymity to discuss private matters.

More to come?

So, are the Penguins going to make another move before the season?

This is the question I receive more than any other about the Penguins, who look a little weak on the blue line and exceedingly crowded at forward.

I’d expect Dubas to make a roster move between now and opening night, though not necessarily one that will turn heads. You have to wonder whether the Penguins will move out a forward to create a more prominent spot for Koivunen. But from what I’ve been told, Dubas is perfectly comfortable entering the season with his current roster.

Under-the-radar signing?

Of all the players the Penguins acquired this summer, I’m hearing about Declan Carlile the most. Dubas signed the 26-year-old left-handed defenseman from the Tampa Bay Lightning when unrestricted free agency began in July.

Keeping with the theme of taking chances, the Penguins are betting on Carlile, too. I keep hearing from people within the organization that Dubas and the rest of the front office are very big on Carlile. They believe he can at least fill the role Ryan Shea, who signed a five-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers, handled for the past three seasons.

Carlile isn’t going to give the Penguins much offense — he’s managed two goals and four points in 46 NHL games — but he’s a defense-first player the Penguins are counting on to be a positive influence.

The Penguins blue line, on paper, may look less stable after the departures of Shea and Parker Wotherspoon, whom they traded to the Vegas Golden Knights for 25-year-old defenseman Kaedan Korczak. The Penguins are betting on Carlile being a legitimate replacement.