Avalanche under pressure as stunning new contender enters the Sidney Crosby sweepstakes
Photo credit: Jess Starr / The Hockey Writers
The Colorado Avalanche are under immense pressure as the Vancouver Canucks emerge as a surprising new contender in the Sidney Crosby sweepstakes, adding unexpected competition for one of the NHL's most coveted players.
Crosby's name has been linked to the Avalanche and Montreal Canadiens over the course of the offseason.
Canucks emerge as a surprising contender to land Sidney Crosby.
Maverick Mitchell from Canucks Daily writes that amid all the buzz surrounding Sidney Crosby's future in Pittsburgh, the chances of him being traded to the Canucks are being closely examined.
In a recent BPM Sports interview, Anthony Marcotte made bold predictions, naming the L.A. Kings and Colorado Avalanche as the top two potential landing spots for Crosby is he's traded by the Penguins.
"If he leaves Pittsburgh, it will be for the Avalanche or the Kings." -Marcotte
Is there any real chance that Pittsburgh Penguins Legend Sidney Crosby is traded to the Vancouver Canucks?
The most obvious choice for Crosby is to remain with the Penguins, but his connection to fellow Nova Scotian and close friend Nathan MacKinnon makes the Avalanche a natural landing spot. Still, could the Canucks factor into his decision.
Crosby's agent Pat Brisson emphasized that if Crosby departs Pittsburgh, it would only be to join a legitimate contender. Given their current state, the Canucks would need to make significant moves before the trade deadline to prove they're a viable landing spot.
"Therefore, the Canucks would need to be having a very good start to 2025-26 for this to even start being possible. Think the kind of start they had in 2023-24, where they soared to the top of the division and regularly beat the league's best and brightest. That, bare minimum, is what it would take for a Crosby trade to even enter the realm of doable." -Mitchell
The strongest factor that could make the unlikely possible is Crosby's connection with his former GM, now Canucks President of Hockey Operations, Jim Rutherford.
"There's the established relationship with Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin. Rutherford was Crosby's GM from 2015 through 2021, including back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships in 2015-16 and 2016-17" -Mitchell
Ultimately, Crosby landing with the Canucks seems unlikely, though it's not entirely impossible.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 15 | 26 ANSWERS Avalanche under pressure as stunning new contender enters the Sidney Crosby sweepstakes Do you think there's a chance Crosby gets traded to the Vancouver Canucks? | ||
| yes | 2 | 7.7 % |
| no | 24 | 92.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
