The Pittsburgh Penguins started the season with a 6-9-2 record, including a terrible loss to the Dallas Stars that saw them allow six goals in the first period. The team has looked lifeless in most of its losses and despite an improved team, the Penguins are likely heading into another year of selling before the trade deadline.

Reports indicated that Penguins president and general manager Kyle Dubas had called teams and discussed some decisions, but a fire sale does not take place. The Penguins traded Lars Eller to the Washington Capitals for a few draft picks, but Eller has been on the verge of being traded since last season.

Combine the Penguins’ poor start with the idea of ​​a takedown and one key name will still pop up: Sidney Crosby. Even in his 20th NHL season, Crosby is still playing at the top of his game and climbing some historical scales.

It didn’t take long for pundits and analysts to once again discuss the idea of ​​Crosby leaving the Penguins, something that won’t happen, but the talking heads will demand it.

“Shouldn’t (Dubas) be open for business at this point? Shouldn’t he tear that down? » asked Jay Onrait on TSN. “And then there’s all this talk about Crosby. Could you actually move it?

We understand that Crosby has no interest in moving and the Penguins have no interest in moving Crosby, but what happens if things continue to get worse?

“I know he wants to stay… but could you convince him?

For most of the 2023-24 season, analysts were talking about the idea of ​​Crosby being forced out of Pittsburgh. He was about to enter the final year of his contract and the Penguins didn’t appear to be improving any time soon.

Crosby signed his extension during the offseason, briefly putting an end to those discussions. Now that the Penguins appear to be back in the mud, it’s almost certain those discussions will return.

“I was saying it last year and I feel like I need to be stronger than ever.” Brian Hayes said on TSN’s Overdrive. “You need to get him out of there.”

Hayes also understands that Crosby is locked in and doesn’t want to leave, but he and many others just want to see one of the greatest players of all time step up.

It’s this hope for Crosby to continue contributing to his legacy that will be driving much of the conversation. People want to see him win more Stanley Cups while the Penguins are likely to see him won’t give him that chance.

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