Penguins' risky overhaul can lead to the trade of the century involving the Avalanche
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The Pittsburgh Penguins' high-stakes roster overhaul could ultimately pave the way for what might be the trade of the century, one that sends franchise icon Sidney Crosby to the Colorado Avalanche in a stunning twist.
Crosby has been linked to the Avalanche in a potential blockbuster trade to reunite him with his hometown friend Nathan MacKinnon.
Risky rebuild could push Sidney Crosby out of Pittsburgh.
Tom Banks from Hockey Unplugged writes that for the past two decades, the Penguins have boasted a star-studded roster, but with their core aging and a lack of emerging talent from recent drafts, the team now finds itself at a pivotal crossroads.
While the Penguins do have some promising prospects on the rise, like McGroarty, Koivunen, Kindel, Murashov, Horcruff, and Zonnon, they lack established stars beyond Crosby to guide and support them at the NHL level, which could pose significant challenge moving forward.
"Much has been made of Crosby's future this off-season, but with a lack of stars around him and those future prospects still years away from being significant contributors at the NHL level, the rebuild could ultimately lead to the departure of their long-time captain." -Banks
In the long run, the Penguins need to continue stockpiling young talent and future draft assets. With three first-round selections in the 2025 NHL Draft and several more picks in hand, they have a solid opportunity to land a future star and start reshaping the core of the franchise.
"What that means for Crosby is that there's little chance of this team pushing for a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the near future, and with Rakell, Rust and Karlsson among others potentially on the way out, it could make sense for Crosby to request out too." -Banks
Ultimately, given everything Crosby has done for the organization, he's earned the right to decide his own future. While he may choose to stick around and mentor the next generation, the Penguins' shift toward youth and draft capital means his final years in the NHL will be especially fascinating to follow.
Previously on Avalanche Insider
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 25 | 35 ANSWERS Penguins' risky overhaul can lead to the trade of the century involving the Avalanche Do you think Crosby closes out his NHL career with the Avalanche? | ||
| yes | 14 | 40 % |
| no | 21 | 60 % |
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