Check out the latest on Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, Senators winger Drake Batherson, and Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE SHEET WITH JEFF MAREK: ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski weighed in on Sidney Crosby’s future with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

Wyshynski said he’s been in the “Sid’s gonna play somewhere else business for a long time.” He’d love to see Crosby join his friend Nathan MacKinnon with the Colorado Avalanche, or become the elder statesman for his childhood team, the Montreal Canadiens.

However, the more Crosby is in Pittsburgh, the more Wyshynski feels that the future Hall of Famer will stay there and finish his career as a “one-team guy.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wyshynski wasn’t the only pundit wondering about Crosby’s future in Pittsburgh over the past couple of years.

The Penguins exceeded expectations last season by reaching the playoffs, silencing calls for Crosby to move on. That chatter could resume if the Penguins struggle this season, but it will probably be half-hearted.

Every indication is that Crosby intends to finish his career with the Penguins. Barring a significant change in his relationship with the club, he’s there to stay.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports we’ll learn by next week whether Drake Batherson and the Senators can agree to an eight-year contract extension.

Batherson, 28, is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. Garrioch reports the winger wants to stay in Ottawa and the Senators want to keep him. However, they have until Sept. 15 to get a deal done for the current maximum of eight years.

After that date, the maximum term drops to seven years for re-signing players, and from seven years to six for unrestricted free agents.

Garrioch reports a gap remains between the two sides. Batherson’s current average annual value is $4.95 million. Garrioch cited sources claiming the winger’s camp could seek a deal comparable to Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe ($10.625 million AAV) or Washington Capitals winger Alex Tuch ($10.5 million AAV).

The Senators don’t want to lose Batherson, especially after trading Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers in June. However, Garrioch believes there’s a sense that Batherson could head to free agency next July if a new deal isn’t in place when the Senators open their season against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 3.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Basically, no change in the Batherson situation. However, talks could pick up now that he’s back in Ottawa for training camp, which opens later this week.

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports multiple league sources claim that Mason Lohrei is drawing trade interest around the league again.

Murphy indicated that the 25-year-old Boston Bruins defenseman was in play last season when the club looked into acquiring Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames before he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jack Studley noted Murphy’s report, adding that Lohrei popped up on Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos’ trade board earlier this summer. Studley noted that Lohrei told NHL.com’s Belle Fraser that his goal this season is to play all 84 games with the Bruins and improve his game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins have a crowded blueline, which could result in one of their defensemen getting traded, perhaps in a deal to address another roster need.

Lohrei’s youth, affordable contract, and potential as a puck-moving defenseman could make him an enticing trade target.