Efforts by Sidney Crosby and his agent,
Pat Brisson, to downplay trade rumors dogging the 38-year-old
Pittsburgh Penguins superstar instead stoked the speculation.
Some pundits mused over what Crosby and
Brisson truly meant while pondering possible trade destinations such
as the Colorado Avalanche and Montreal Canadiens.
Crosby didn’t mince words when speaking
with reporters during a season-ticket drive on Monday.
“This is
where I want to be,” he said. “I can’t keep having to answer the
same questions over again because of these narratives. If people want
to write about that or say that, that’s fine. I can’t really control
that.”
“I don’t take those rumors or some of
those things lightly. Like I said, this is where I want to be,”
Crosby said. “It’s a special place, and it’s something that is hard to
put into a soundbite, but it means a lot.”
Crosby may have put this speculation to
rest for now, but don’t be surprised if it resurfaces should the
Penguins struggle again this season.
Meanwhile, Crosby’s teammates, Bryan
Rust and Rickard Rakell, remain the focus of persistent trade
conjecture.
Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette wondered how much longer the two forwards will
remain with the Penguins. He believes GM Kyle Dubas
set a high asking price, which would explain why both players are
still in Pittsburgh as training camp opens this week.
Vensel anticipates one or both could be
moved before the March 2026 trade deadline or at some point down the
road. However, Dubas isn’t under pressure to peddle them during this
season.
Rust and Rakell are under contract
through 2027-28. Dubas can remain patient and wait for the right
offers.
In Vancouver, meanwhile, Canucks
management could be feeling the heat entering this season.
Patrick Johnston of The Province
suggested changes could be coming to the front office if the
Canucks fail to bounce back from last season’s disappointing
performance, when they finished with 19 fewer points than in 2023-24.
Johnston believes that puts additional
pressure on hockey operations president Jim Rutherford and GM Patrik
Allvin. A source close to the situation told him that those changes
could come by Christmas if the team hasn’t improved by then.
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