Why a Sidney Crosby trade to Colorado remains a Pipe Dream

The Colorado Avalanche offseason has been comparatively subdued, aside from a widely circulated and persistently reiterated rumor that continues to capture public attention.

Avs fans and analysts alike continue to harbor aspirations of acquiring Sidney Crosby via trade. However, such hopes are ultimately quixotic and unlikely to materialize.

Why Would The Penguins Trade Crosby?

There is little doubt that the Pittsburgh Penguins need to rebuild. However, the notion that they would part ways with the very face of their franchise is laughable at best. While the modern NHL rarely witnesses players spending their entire careers with a single organization, Crosby remains an emblematic exception.

If he were still in pursuit of his first Stanley Cup, the conversation might hold more weight. Consider the case of Ray Bourque, who, after 21 storied seasons in Boston, sought a trade to Colorado in 2000 in a final bid to hoist the Cup. Crosby, by contrast, has already etched his name into hockey lore with three championships. The impetus for such a departure simply doesn’t exist. Crosby doesn’t need to chase a fourth championship and doesn’t seem like the person that would abandon his original team to do so, but you never know.

Avalanche fans continue to nurture a faint glimmer of hope, grounded primarily in the sentimental narrative linking Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon—idol and protégé—both products of the modest yet mythologized community of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. It’s a heartwarming storybook premise, sure. But the NHL is a business, not a fairytale—and the likelihood of such a cinematic reunion materializing remains exceedingly slim.

Fleece Job

Should such a trade ever materialize, there is little doubt the Penguins would emerge as the clear beneficiaries. While Colorado would snag Crosby—briefly satiating an emotional fanbase prone to fickle swings of sentiment—the cost would be steep. The Avalanche would almost certainly be required to part with a substantial package, likely including multiple high-value draft selections, forward Martin Nečas—whose long-term commitment to the franchise remains uncertain—and perhaps an additional prospect of notable upside. Defenseman Sean Behrens, given his development trajectory and positional value, would almost assuredly be a key target for Pittsburgh in any negotiation.

Less than nine months removed from a significant knee injury that sidelined him for the entirety of the 2024–25 season, Behrens made a compelling return at Avalanche Development Camp, where he quickly reaffirmed his value within the organization. Adaptability remains a hallmark of his game. Following a 40-game stint with the University of Denver, Behrens demonstrated a remarkable ability to drive play from the blue line to the crease—often making his impact felt within a single period. His skating continues to be a distinct asset. Yet questions linger regarding his physical readiness for the NHL. Standing at 5-foot-10 and weighing just 177 pounds, Behrens will need to augment his strength and physicality to fully assert himself at the professional level. Fortunately for him, time is on his side. At just 22 years of age his developmental arc remains promising—further enhancing his value in any prospective trade negotiations.

From a broader strategic lens, the calculus behind a potential Crosby trade hinges on competing organizational timelines. The Avalanche would acquire Crosby—a generational talent and cultural icon—which would undoubtedly provide a short-term jolt of energy to the fanbase and locker room alike. At 37, however, Crosby’s window of elite productivity is finite. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh would secure a forward-looking foundation. Nečas, on the cusp of becoming a perennial 100-point contributor, coupled with a high-upside defenseman like Behrens and a package of draft capital, would allow the Penguins to accelerate their transition into the next generation.

In essence, the Pens would emerge as the long-term beneficiaries, stockpiling assets and youth for a sustainable rebuild. Colorado, by contrast, would be gambling on a narrow championship window—an inherently precarious proposition in a league where parity reigns supreme and nothing is ever guaranteed.