Over the weekend, rumors surfaced suggesting Sidney Crosby could be traded away from the Pittsburgh Penguins, causing a stir in the hockey community. These Nathan MacKinnon Sidney Crosby rumors originated from former NHL player Georges Laraque, who claimed Crosby’s chances of joining a new team were very real.
The chatter escalated when NHL insider Kevin Weekes posted a cryptic image featuring Denver, Colorado, hinting at potential developments while the NHL draft was underway. This prompted the popular podcast Spittin’ Chiclets to amplify the speculation, amplifying tensions across social platforms.
Inside Perspectives and Reactions to the Trade Rumors
Despite the growing buzz, no official trade emerged. On Sunday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman addressed the matter during an episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, providing insight into the rumors and the current state of Crosby’s situation with the Penguins.
“Then, there were the Sidney Crosby rumors on Friday night—wild stuff. Colorado cleared cap space with the deal that sent Miles Wood and Charlie Coyle to Columbus, which definitely raised eyebrows,” Friedman said (30:00).
“There was some strong pushback, including from Nate MacKinnon on Instagram. Still, this is probably just the world. I even caught myself sending texts that said, ‘I can’t believe I’m writing this, but is there any truth to it?'”
“The truth is, with the direction Pittsburgh is heading, tearing it all down, there are always going to be whispers about Crosby potentially going to a contender.
“Whether it’s a true Cup threat like Colorado or an up-and-coming team like Montreal, people want to see him in the playoffs again. We’re going to keep hearing it, whether we like it or not. But for the record, I don’t believe it was true this past weekend,” Friedman added.
It is important to note that Crosby recently signed a two-year, $17.4 million extension with the Penguins, beginning in the 2025-26 season, signaling his current contract commitment to Pittsburgh.
Nathan MacKinnon Denies Trade Rumors on Social Media
Amid the swirling rumors, Nathan MacKinnon directly addressed the speculation by using social media to dismiss the reports as false. On Instagram, MacKinnon commented “Fake news” on a Spittin’ Chiclets post that circulated the initial claims, a response further shared by Bob Pompeani of KDKA TV on X.
Although many fans and analysts have speculated about Crosby possibly joining MacKinnon in Colorado or returning to his childhood team in Montreal, Crosby, now 37, appears settled in Pittsburgh with no indication of wanting to leave.
Implications and Outlook for Sidney Crosby and the NHL
The persistent rumors about Crosby highlight the uncertainty surrounding the Penguins’ current rebuilding phase and the desire among fans to see Crosby compete for the Stanley Cup again. While whispers about a trade to a contender like Colorado or Montreal are likely to continue, authoritative voices in the hockey world currently see no validity in these claims.
This episode underscores the tension within the NHL community about franchise directions and player movements, but for now, Crosby remains a Pittsburgh Penguin, with the focus turning back toward the 2024-25 season and beyond.