The Pittsburgh Penguins need a move, but their captain is confident no matter the situation.
PITTSBURGH - The NHL trade deadline is just over a week away, and at this point no one is safe from discussing the topic in some form, that includes Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby.
Since returning from the All-Star break, the Penguins have been in a bit of a bind and could use a trade to push the team in the right direction.
Other teams around the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference are loading up their rosters with blockbuster deals, while Ron Hextall has been pretty quiet.
Does Crosby believe the Penguins need a move to be made to jolt the lineup?
“I think that’s up to Ron,” Crosby said. “Ultimately it’s up to us to go out there and perform.”
The Penguins have struggled mightily since returning from the All-Star break, going 3-4-0, including their current three game losing streak.
Fans have been begging and pleading for Hextall to make a move and improve multiple areas of the team, but to the players, they just have to take it one game at a time.
“It’s his job to evaluate that and see what he needs to do,” Crosby said. “There’s a lot of belief in here. It hasn’t gone our way lately, but this is when you get tested as a group.”
Players aren’t oblivious to the NHL’s schedule and when the trade deadline is; they keep their eyes on things.
“You keep an eye on it, everyone understands that’s the situation,” Crosby said. “You try and focus on playing, but it’s always in the background.”
No matter what happens with the Penguins at the deadline, whether they make a huge move or stand pat, the locker room has confidence.
“We’ve shown that we can be a pretty good team,” Crosby said. “Everyone here believes in each other.”
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