Sidney Crosby has been one of the best players in all of the NHL since 2005 as the draft’s first overall pick. At 38 years old, however, his career is coming to an end sometime in the near future. That being said, the Colorado Avalanche have been linked to the future Hall of Fame forward for several years now, while the Pittsburgh Penguins are in a tough spot as a team, having finished no better than fifth place in the Metropolitan Division over the past three seasons.
I’ll be honest, while the Avs have been able to sign guys nearing the end of their career in the past (Ray Bourque, Zach Parise, Brent Burns), acquiring somebody like Crosby just feels way out there. First of all, what would it take to bring him over from Pittsburgh? It would have to be a trade, since he’s under contract for this season and next year. After that, who knows? He could play into his 40’s, I’m sure. But would he?
I know that the NHL is a win-now/what have you done for me lately league, so adding Crosby isn’t a move that is about planning for several years down the road.
The Athletic polled current NHL players regarding Sidney Crosby’s landing spot for next season
By now, virtually everybody knows about Crosby’s connection with Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon. Heck, I’ve even written about it in September of 2024. Back then, I was convinced that the move would not happen.
However, The Athletic recently published a survey taken by many NHL players regarding several things, including where Sidney Crosby will paly next year.
First up is the Penguins themselves, who 73.7 percent of the 118 players voted for. It’s not a big surprise given that Crosby is one of the most storied players in team history. He’s won three Stanley Cups with the franchise, He was on the All-Rookie team of 2006, has won the Art Ross twice, is a ten-time All-Star, has won the Hart trophy twice, and so many more accolades.
In May, he was named to the NHL Quarter-Century team.
With the second-most votes on where Crosby will play in 2026-27, the Montreal Canadiens (12.7 percent).
Finally, the Avalanche are third at 11.9 percent (roughly 14 votes).
How much water does the Crosby-MacKinnon connection hold to a potential move?
I suppose anything is possible in any given year. Crosby has been part of trade talks among fans and even brought up by some media members over the years. However, nothing has ever materialized.
By now, virtually everybody knows about Crosby’s connection with Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon. Heck, I’ve even written about it in September of 2024. Back then, I was convinced that the move would not happen.
The two NHL stars have played alongside each other in the past, at the 4 Nations Face-Off and the 2025 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships. They’ve known each other since their youth, in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. So, it’s been an awfully long time.
Today, I still have that gut feeling, for one simple reason: While it has been talked about for years, nothing has come from it. It’s all just talk at this point. I think something would get leaked if the Avs and Penguins even discussed a potential trade.
Would Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland do a deal to acquire Sidney Crosby?
What exactly would the Penguins be asking for in a Crosby trade? One proposed trade is prospect Mikhail Gulyayev, Martin Necas, and a first round draft pick. All that for a 38 year old seems very high and the idea of sending a young Necas in the trade just feels so wrong to me. He likely is the biggest loss of that particular trade, given that potential results of Gulyayev‘s future have been mixed. Will he end up in the NHL one day? It’s anybody’s guess.
The Avalanche traded away Calum Ritchie in the Brock Nelson trade, and while Ritchie didn’t pan out for the Avs as a first-round pick, he’s doing pretty well in the Islanders organization, having played in 21 games this season. He was sent down by the Avs last year after his short trial period given that he was too young to be on the Eagles and apparently didn’t do enough with the Avs. It hurts to see him doing well with the Islanders right now, so the hesitation to send over a first-round pick for Crosby is justified despite the questions regarding whoever is selected with that draft pick.
It’s evident that general manager Chris MacFarland isn’t afraid of trading away prospects for stars to win now. It’s not out of the question that Crosby becomes an Avalanche and that the team will do almost anything to get him. Maybe with the hot start to the season, the Avs would think that adding Crosby for a Stanley Cup run makes a lot of sense. The I’m just not a big fan of trading away a young Necas. The draft pick, I could probably part with.
What do you think, Avs Nation? Would you like to see Sidney Crosby in burgundy and blue?