For the third consecutive seasons, the Pittsburgh Penguins will not make it to the playoffs.
The team had a successful period winning two Stanley Cup titles in 2016 and 2017 after doing so in 2009, but now the situation has worsened for the team captain Sidney Crosby .
Will this change for Crosby as he nears the end of his contract with Pittsburgh next fall?
During NHL Network’s NHL Tonight show on Wednesday, March 27, host Jamison Coyle asked hockey broadcaster Steve Kouleas about the future of the Penguins and Crosby. Kouleas firmly said,
“I think [Crosby] is gonna stay and I think he’s the only sacred cow,” Kouleas told Coyle. “Everything else is up for grabs.”
The Penguins have not yet started a true rebuild, but it seems likely to happen given their recent moves prior to this season’s trade deadline on March 8.
At that time, the Penguins traded franchise icon Jake Guentzelto the Carolina Hurricanes despite his objections, as reported by Heavy’s Emma Lingan.
Now, it may be time for the legendary players of the franchise to bid farewell to Pittsburgh, according to Kouleas.
One man, however, is almost certain to remain in Pittsburgh, where he has been for nearly 20 years since being drafted as the No. 1 pick in 2005. That man is three-time Stanley Cup Champion Crosby, whose career earnings are estimated to be over $141 million according to CapFriendly.
Sidney Crosby Could Lead the New Generation of Penguins Hockey
In a recent mailbag published at The Athletic on March 20, Penguins beat reporter Josh Yohe responded to a fan's question about Crosby's future in Pittsburgh.
The fan expressed a desire for Crosby to leave as he had already contributed significantly and questioned the necessity of him being around for the team's likely decline.
According to Yohe, Crosby simply “wants to be around, impending disaster or not.” He explained further, sharing his thoughts on the direction the franchise is heading.
“The Penguins want to build something around young players,” explained Yohe. “A few years from now, I believe Crosby would love nothing more than to lead a young group of Penguins on a special run, to show them the way before he walks away.”
If it’s up to Crosby, who is already 36 years old and will be playing at age 37 next season in the final year under contract with Pittsburgh, Yohe made it sound like he would opt to stay put for at least another year.
If Not Crosby, the Penguins Could Move Other Stars
During the same NHL Network show aired on March 26, co-host E.J. Hradek provided insight into the Penguins’ plans for the upcoming summer and the potential for significant changes.
“It’s gonna be really tough,” Hradek began. “This is going to be a tough one for (Pittsburgh Penguins General Manager) Kyle Dubas.
“Sidney Crosby–he’s going to make the call as to what he wants to do, right? He’s going to determine if he wants to stay and finish his career in Pittsburgh, or if he wants to go somewhere else.”
Crosby is out for the short-term and Hradek talked about the other Penguins with big contracts.
Hradek mentioned that decisions will need to be made about Letang, Malkin, and Karlsson.
Great players have ended up in different places before, so Dubas will have a tough decision.
If Dubas chooses to move on from any of the mentioned veterans, he could create a new Penguins roster while keeping Crosby.
It might be challenging to retool the team quickly.
Letang, Malkin, and Karlsson are under contract for at least two more years, with deals of six-plus million each. PuckPediaOnly a few NHL franchises could afford to have players like Letang, Malkin, and Karlsson.
The superstars have no-movement clauses in their contracts, so their opinions would determine any potential trade.
