Even earlier than famous person captain Sidney Crosby agreed to a two-year contract extension that might maintain him hooked up to the Pittsburgh Penguins by way of at the least the 2026-27 NHL season, followers hoped the trio of Crosby, middle Evgeni Malkin and defenseman Kris Letang may assist the membership go on one final magical run earlier than they retire.
As an alternative, The Penguins began the season at 6-9-3 and recently traded veteran middle Lars Eller to the Washington Capitals for 2 future draft picks. With Pittsburgh trying like one of many worst groups within the league, some understandably have questioned if Crosby is having second ideas about retiring as a one-club man.
“The Penguins have let groups know that they’re open for enterprise,” NHL insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet shared on Thursday. “In accordance with a few sources, their choice is younger NHL gamers, adopted by already-drafted prospects, adopted by picks. …If Sidney Crosby wished to go wherever else, he wouldn’t have prolonged with the Penguins. The one manner I may ever see it altering is that if actuality hit him more durable than he anticipated. I do not see that proper now.”
Whereas there’s, on paper, loads of time for the Penguins to develop into a staff able to hanging round by way of early subsequent 12 months concerning playoff conversations, there isn’t any signal this squad has any such run in it. This previous Monday, Pittsburgh surrendered six first-period objectives in a 7-1 dwelling loss to the Dallas Stars. As The Athletic’s Josh Yohe famous, Pittsburgh is previous and “hardly ever aggressive in opposition to contenders” this fall.
Nonetheless, Friedman mentioned Penguins president/common supervisor Kyle Dubas does not wish to commerce Malkin. Friedman added that he does not “imagine [Malkin] desires to go wherever else” regardless of the membership’s woeful file.
“Letang has a no-move [clause] for 3 extra seasons,” Friedman continued. “Even when he wished a new deal with, it’s not going to be straightforward. …His historical past of injuries and ailments make buying and selling for the 37-year-old a bet. And, it’s tough to know precisely the way it all works, however NHL contracts might be uninsurable for pre-existing circumstances.”
In October 2023, Crosby, Malkin and Letang turned the longest-tenured trio of teammates in North American skilled sports activities historical past. Breaking them up years in the past most likely would’ve been the fitting transfer because it pertains to the Penguins’ long-term fortunes, however there’s something to be mentioned for them eager to go down with a ship that may sink sooner somewhat than later.
