They say the more things change, the more they stay the same. That statement might very well be true for Sidney Crosby‘s love for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Yet it’s being put to the test time and again. Ahead of a crucial NHL offseason, recent reports around the Pens’ status might be the last straw for Crosby.
Crosby is walking into the 21st season in his NHL career, every single one of them in Pittsburgh. There’s nowhere else ‘Sid the Kid’ can call home in the league, but it might not stay that way forever. Reports state Crosby has made a decision about his future, staying with the organization that opened its doors for him in 2005.
However, it’s right to believe the veteran captain is looking to chase another Stanley Cup. And that’s one thing the Penguins cannot offer him right now.
Despite Crosby’s continued point-per-game production, the Penguins have missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for three straight seasons. In fact, Pittsburgh hasn’t won a playoff series since the 2017–18 postseason. Captains stay with their teams through thick and thin—they go down with the ship. Yet, if Crosby chose to set sail for new horizons in the NHL, who could truly argue against it?
Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins looks on against the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period at Wells Fargo Center on January 2, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Crosby has nothing left to prove in Pittsburgh. He is determined to stay and hopefully turn the tide in the City of Bridges, but the organization is seemingly heading in a different direction. According to reports, the Penguins are embracing the “seller” status ahead of free agency. That might as well be all she wrote for Crosby’s contending aspirations.
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As reported by insider Pierre LeBrun, the Penguins are “the only true seller right now.” Per LeBrun’s comments in dialogue with TSN 1050 Toronto, most teams at the bottom of the standings are looking to add players and actually get better. Except for the Pens, who are calling it a day and embracing the rebuild after hiring Dan Muse as head coach.
What’s on the menu?
Immediately after hearing the words seller and Penguins, every NHL franchise has the same name pop up in its head: Sidney Crosby. However, LeBrun stated the three-time Stanley Cup champion is not on the market. That’s definitely a bummer for the rest of the league. Still, that might change later in the 2025-26 season if Crosby eventually asks to be traded. At the moment, though, it’s looking bleak.
Evgeni Malkin—according to LeBrun—is not on the trade block, either. So, while the Penguins appear to be hosting a garage sale, they seem reluctant to slap a price tag on the neighborhood’s most coveted items.
Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period of the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Mullett Arena on January 22, 2024 in Tempe, Arizona.
On the phone
According to reports from ClutchPoints, the Penguins have received calls about forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell. Apparently, several NHL teams are interested in trading for them.
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Both Rust and Rakell are coming off 30-goal seasons and recently signed six-year extensions in Pittsburgh. However, as their value skyrocketed, the Penguins might consider parting ways with them, possibly looking for draft stock in return.
