NHL insider believes Sidney Crosby will be traded from Pittsburgh

Sidney Crosby is among the greatest NHL players of all time, but the Pittsburgh Penguins’ roster may not allow him to fight for another Stanley Cup title at 37 years old. Crosby has won the Stanley Cup three times (2009, 2016, 2017) with eyes on a fourth; however, Pittsburgh hasn’t made the playoffs since 2022.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist is fresh off a third consecutive year of 90-plus points, proving that he can still compete at a high level while he nears the end of his career. However, could the Penguins move on from Crosby to allow him an opportunity to win another championship?

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In early July, former NHL player Nick Kypreos said on the Real Kyper & Bourne show that he is “more in the belief” that Crosby will be traded from Pittsburgh. In response, Sportnet’s Elliotte Friedman agreed with the sentiment that Pittsburgh could trade Crosby after the 2026 Olympics if the team isn’t performing well.

The 37-year-old center has been linked to the Colorado Avalanche on several occasions due to his close relationship with Nathan MacKinnon, but the rumors have always been shut down. Crosby has spent his entire 20-year career in Pittsburgh, and it wouldn’t be unusual to see a franchise player get traded midseason.

Before the 2025 NHL trade deadline, Brad Marchand was traded from the Boston Bruins to the Florida Panthers after spending 16 years in Massachusetts. Marchand went on to win his second Stanley Cup as a key piece for Florida. If Crosby were to get moved, it could represent a similar situation.

The rumors of Crosby’s future in Pittsburgh will continue to swirl until a trade occurs or he retires. The Penguins aren’t poised to compete for another Stanley Cup title during the 2025-’26 NHL season, and a post-Olympics trade could be a reasonable idea if the team is playing poorly.