Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby could be playing for another team next season, insider Nick Kypreos claims. Specifically, Kypreos floated the idea of Crosby joining the Montreal Canadiens following the 2026 Olympics.
In a discussion with Justin Bourne and Sam MacKee published on July 3, Kypreos claimed that the Pittsburgh Penguins could move Crosby following the Olympics next season.
Kypreos made this bold prediction regarding the Canadiens’ next season:
“Wait till they get Sid Crosby after the Olympics.”
The stunning claim is hardly substantiated at the moment. However, the rumors regarding a potential Sidney Crosby trade have been around for quite some time. Kypreos didn’t offer much of an explanation as to why the Penguins would pull off such a trade. All Kypreos stated was:
“Something’s going on in Pitt. Things are going on. Things are going on…”
The cryptic remarks point toward the Penguins working on a deal behind the scenes. The Penguins are heading toward a rebuild. So, having Crosby in the lineup could be seen as a waste of Crosby’s still elite-level talent.
Kypreos offered this insight into why trading Sidney Crosby would make sense:
“He’s too good right now to just be a babysitter for the next three years. This guy can play peak. It will be such a disservice to the history of our game if we watch him stay in Pittsburgh. The next three or four years.”
Sidney Crosby Makes Sense for Montreal Canadiens
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a team trending downward. They have missed the playoffs the last two seasons and look poised to miss the postseason for a third straight season.
Plus, Evgeni Malkin will be taking his victory lap this season as he heads toward retirement. The Penguins have gaps throughout the lineup and don’t have a bona fide number-one goaltender. All of these situations point toward the Penguins missing the playoffs for another season.
As such, moving Crosby to an up-and-coming team, like the Canadiens, makes sense. The Canadiens are looking to compete in the Atlantic Division with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, and Tampa Bay Lightning. Those three clubs boast elite-level talent, something the Canadiens sorely lack.
That’s something they could change by adding Sidney Crosby.
Crosby would immediately elevate the Canadiens’ lineup. His solid two-way presence could make the difference between struggling for a wild card this season and winning one of the top three seeds in the Atlantic Division.
The Cost to Land Crosby in Montreal
Landing Sidney Crosby could be much cheaper than fans might believe. Crosby would immediately fetch a first-round pick. Montreal has its own in 2026 and 2027.
Plus, the Penguins would be looking for futures to aid in their rebuild. Perhaps RFA goalie Jakub Dobes could get the ball rolling. Also, solid defensive prospect David Reinbacher could be part of that package.
The Penguins could also ask for an NHL center to cover the open spot Crosby would leave down the middle. So, why not throw in a player like Alex Newhook?
All told, the Canadiens would have to surrender four to five pieces among prospects and draft picks to land about a year-and-a-quarter of Sidney Crosby. If it’s something that could propel the Canadiens to a long playoff run, the team would surely look into making it happen.
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