The Sidney Crosby trade rumors may have taken their biggest turn of the offseason, and Montreal Canadiens or Colorado Avalanche fans hoping for a blockbuster probably won’t love the latest development.
Crosby confirmed Tuesday that agent Pat Brisson is already speaking with Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas about another contract. More importantly, the 39-year-old made it clear he isn’t simply trying to squeeze out one final NHL season. Crosby said he would like to continue playing for a “number of years,” with playing for Canada at the 2028 World Cup of Hockey providing additional motivation.
Does that completely eliminate a future Crosby trade to the Montreal Canadiens or Colorado Avalanche? No.
But my read is that the probability of Crosby leaving Pittsburgh just dropped considerably. For months, the most compelling argument behind a Crosby blockbuster was that Pittsburgh’s competitive window might no longer match his. After the Penguins returned to the playoffs last season, and now with extension discussions underway, that argument is becoming much harder to make.
The takeaway: Unless negotiations unexpectedly break down or Pittsburgh’s season goes badly off course, Crosby remaining a Penguin now looks substantially more likely than a Canadiens or Avalanche trade.
Sidney Crosby Contract Talks Change the Pittsburgh Penguins Trade Rumors
Crosby’s current contract carries an $8.7 million average annual value and expires after the 2026-27 season. Asked about his future at the NHL/NHLPA North American Player Media Tour, Crosby confirmed that Brisson and Dubas are talking.
“Yeah, Pat’s talking to Kyle,” Crosby said.
He also indicated there isn’t necessarily a deadline to complete a deal before training camp or the regular season. That matters. This doesn’t sound like a player issuing Pittsburgh an ultimatum or preparing an exit strategy. It sounds much more like Crosby and the Penguins attempting to determine how many additional years make sense for a player who is still performing at an extraordinary level at 39.
Crosby produced 29 goals and 45 assists for 74 points in 68 games last season, a 1.09-points-per-game pace. He also extended his NHL record by averaging at least one point per game for a 21st consecutive season. Pittsburgh returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after a four-year absence before losing to Philadelphia in six games.
That’s an important change from the environment surrounding Crosby speculation a year ago.
In September 2025, Crosby said he had not seriously considered playing somewhere other than Pittsburgh. At the same time, Brisson acknowledged that a trade was “always a possibility,” particularly if the Penguins continued missing the playoffs.
Pittsburgh then made the postseason.
Now Crosby is discussing another contract.
That doesn’t officially close the case, but the evidence is increasingly pointing in one direction.
Could the Montreal Canadiens Still Trade for Sidney Crosby?
Montreal will probably remain attached to Crosby’s name for as long as there is even a one-percent possibility he leaves Pittsburgh.
The connection isn’t manufactured out of thin air. Crosby grew up a Canadiens fan, his father Troy was drafted by Montreal, and Crosby has openly discussed what playing at the Bell Centre means to him. ESPN previously outlined Montreal as one of the logical hypothetical possibilities should Crosby ever decide to leave Pittsburgh.
The Canadiens also have something Pittsburgh would presumably want in virtually any superstar trade: young players, prospects and draft capital.
But there’s an enormous difference between Montreal being an intriguing hypothetical destination and Crosby requesting a trade to Montreal.
There is currently no credible reporting that Crosby has done the latter.
That’s the distinction I would emphasize.
I could imagine Crosby in a Canadiens jersey from a hockey standpoint. A veteran center with his defensive intelligence, faceoff ability, leadership, and postseason experience would accelerate Montreal’s competitive timeline immediately.
I just don’t see evidence right now that Crosby wants that outcome.
Why the Colorado Avalanche Crosby Rumor Isn’t Completely Dead
Colorado might actually be the more compelling hockey fit.
Crosby’s friendship with Nathan MacKinnon, their Nova Scotia connection, and Colorado’s status as a Stanley Cup contender have fueled Avalanche speculation for years. Sportsnet has previously identified Colorado as perhaps the most obvious destination if Crosby ever decided chasing another championship outweighed finishing his career in Pittsburgh.
Imagine Crosby joining MacKinnon on a postseason roster.
That’s why the rumor will never completely disappear.
But Colorado would have to solve both the financial side and Pittsburgh’s asking price, while Crosby himself controls the most important variable: whether he wants to go anywhere.
And right now, he’s negotiating with Pittsburgh.
NHLTradeRumor.com Crosby Cap Impact Calculator
The NHL’s 2026-27 salary-cap ceiling is $104 million, making Crosby’s $8.7 million cap hit approximately 8.37% of the entire team cap.
| NHL Salary Cap | $104.0M |
| Crosby Cap Hit | $8.70M |
| Percentage of NHL Cap | 8.37% |
| 25% Salary Retained | $6.525M buyer cap hit |
| 50% Salary Retained | $4.35M buyer cap hit |
NHLTradeRumor.com calculation: Crosby’s full $8.7 million cap hit represents only 8.37% of the $104 million ceiling. At hypothetical 50% retention, a contender would need to accommodate just $4.35 million.
That contract efficiency is precisely why Crosby would command enormous interest if he ever became available.
Sidney Crosby Trade Value Index
This is our trade-value model, not information from the Penguins, Crosby’s agent, or an NHL executive.
NHLTradeRumor.com Sidney Crosby Trade Value Index
Our editorial model evaluates Crosby’s current impact, contract value, playoff pedigree, age and Pittsburgh’s negotiating leverage.
| Factor | Weight | Crosby Score |
|---|---|---|
| Current NHL Impact | 35% | 10/10 |
| Contract Efficiency | 25% | 9/10 |
| Playoff / Leadership Value | 20% | 10/10 |
| Age and Remaining Term | 10% | 5/10 |
| Seller Negotiating Leverage | 10% | 2/10 |
| Weighted Trade Value | 100% | 84.5/100 |
The unusually low seller-leverage score is intentional. With Crosby controlling his destination and Pittsburgh unlikely to move its franchise icon without his blessing, the Penguins couldn’t simply auction him to the highest bidder.
But in terms of what Crosby could provide a Stanley Cup contender right now, there are very few comparable players.
My Read: The Crosby Blockbuster Isn’t Dead, But It’s on Life Support
If I were handicapping this situation today, I would put Pittsburgh comfortably ahead of the field.
The latest development doesn’t guarantee Crosby signs another contract. Negotiations can change. Pittsburgh could struggle badly. Crosby could reconsider what he wants late in the season.
But trade rumors need catalysts.
A year ago, Pittsburgh continually missing the playoffs was that catalyst.
Today, Crosby is coming off another point-per-game season, the Penguins returned to the postseason, and his agent is discussing another contract with Dubas.
That’s three pieces of evidence pointing toward Crosby staying.
Montreal will remain the romantic possibility.
Colorado will remain the championship-chasing possibility.
Pittsburgh remains the actual reality.
And unless something significant changes between now and the NHL trade deadline, Crosby’s latest comments may have moved the Canadiens and Avalanche blockbuster scenarios further away than they’ve been in quite some time.
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