The dog days of the NHL off-season have prompted some pundits to ponder the futures of Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid.
You know it’s been a slow month for NHL off-season news when someone resurrects the Sidney Crosby trade rumors from two years ago.
During the summer of 2024, Crosby was eligible to sign a contract extension with the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, the longer he went without putting pen to paper, the more speculation grew about his future in Pittsburgh, with some pundits suggesting he could request a trade to the Colorado Avalanche or Montreal Canadiens.
That chatter died when Crosby signed a two-year extension on Sept. 16, 2024. Fast-forward to this summer, and the 39-year-old Penguins captain is in the same situation contract-wise. This time, however, he barely surfaced in the rumor mill, and then it was only speculation about how long his next contract with the Penguins might be.
However, Sid Seixeiro decided to stir the pot. During his eponymous show last Wednesday, he dismissed the notion of Crosby agreeing to another extension, saying he’d believe it when he saw it.
While acknowledging Crosby’s loyalty to the Penguins, he felt that the future Hall of Famer would tire of general manager Kyle Dubas' rebuilding efforts and request a trade, perhaps to his boyhood team, the Canadiens.
In reality, however, Crosby likely isn’t going anywhere. Josh Yohe of The Athletic reported earlier this month that discussions between the Penguins and Crosby’s camp were expected to begin after the summer ends. Yohe believes he’ll sign a one or two-year contract.
Crosby isn’t the only superstar whose future has become a topic of interest in the rumor mill.
Potential Connor McDavid Landing Spots
With Connor McDavid entering the first season of his two-year extension with the Edmonton Oilers, NHL Network’s E.J. Hradek looked at hypothetical landing spots for the superstar center if he decides to leave Edmonton.
During an appearance on the Bleed Oil Blue podcast last Monday, Hradek admitted he doesn’t have a close relationship with McDavid. Nevertheless, he cited a couple of sources who claimed that the Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings might be two teams he’d be amenable to once his contract with the Oilers ends in 2028.
Hradek also suggested the New York Rangers as a landing spot. He pointed out that they’ll have a lot of cap space “and it’s New York, after all.”
According to Hradek, McDavid will want to join a team that gives him the best chance to win the Stanley Cup. However, the Flyers, Red Wings, or Rangers are unlikely to be in a position to make that possible for McDavid by 2028, assuming he hasn’t requested a trade before then.
The Flyers had a promising 2025-26 campaign, but they’re still a rebuilding club. The Red Wings haven’t been to the playoffs in a decade, Dylan Larkin has requested a trade, and Steve Yzerman lost his job as general manager. The Rangers have spent the past two years retooling their roster, but there’s no certainty they’ll be a Cup contender by 2028.
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