Sidney Crosby has been the defining player for the Pittsburgh Penguins for nearly 20 years, leading the team in three Stanley Cup championship games and countless playoff battles. At 38, his career entered Twilight, with Penguin facing difficult questions about their long-term prospects, and conversations about his future became even bigger.
In recent months, speculation has linked Crosby to the Montreal Canadiens, and even the odds have floated the potential next team odds put Montreal in the case where Captain Penguins once moved. However, despite the discussions, prominent insiders, including TSN’s Frank Seravalli, directly postponed their return, which clearly shows that Crosby’s touched thoughts were more rumored than reality.
Betting market drives speculation
The team talking about Crosby’s changes began with the May Futures Commission starting listing odds for his next possible destination. Montreal and a few other organizations stressed near the top. These betting lines have weight in the headlines, but offer little in terms of hard evidence. Historically, narratives and speculation, like reliable reports, have affected odds.
Sports books in particular have already leaned towards the high-profile NHL player Chatter, and Crosby’s connection to Montreal is a simple storyline. The history of Canadians and the roots of Crosby’s Nova Scotia is an attractive narrative. However, insiders were quick to point out that such a market could not reflect actual trade negotiations and should be regarded as entertainment rather than a legitimate predictive tool.
Why Montreal continues to surface
On paper, Montreal’s fit has some logic. The Canadiens have one of the league’s deepest prospects and have taken over the flexibility of salary caps over the next few seasons. They are always looking for players to elevate their forward group to the true competitive core. Crosby’s status and skills will be provided immediately.
Personal connections add to the plot as Crosby hails from Port Cole, Nova Scotia and has numerous speculations linked to a potential late career to Canada. However, Crosby himself has never made such a move publicly. Below the surface, narrative has a more emotional appeal than actual possibilities.
Crosby talks about rumors
When Crosby was asked about the Montreal rumor recently, his answer kept the story alive. Rather than shutting down the idea in a bland manner, he acknowledged the speculation and pointed out that given the Penguin’s position, he understood why such a problem arose. At the same time, he did not express his interest in moving forward, nor did he suggest Pittsburgh had contacted him on a trade plan.
The Penguin captain despite his age. In the 2024-25 season, Crosby played 78 games, scored 29 goals, added 54 assists, and scored 83 points. His performance highlights that even at the age of 38, he is still the driving force behind being able to influence the game at a high level. Few people in the league believe that Pittsburgh would consider separating this type of production without an extraordinary background.
Penguin’s organizational direction
General Manager Kyle Dubas has insisted throughout his tenure that Crosby forms the basis of Pittsburgh’s short-term and long-term approach. Penguins are still aiming to compete with their senior groups, even Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang are moving deeper into the late career. The team’s challenge is balancing older cores with limited financial flexibility, while also trying to introduce young contributors like Brayden Yager and Owen Pickering in the coming season.
Despite this, Crosby’s contract status is still in his hands. His deal has two more seasons per year, $8.7 million a year, including a complete moveless clause. This ensures that the transaction cannot be completed without his approval. If he decides to stay in Pittsburgh until retirement, the matter will be closed. But if he chooses to explore the last stop elsewhere, the Penguin will be obliged to respect the decision.
Insider’s pushback
Insider Frank Seravalli poured cold water on the rumor that he had poured cold water on Montreal earlier this month. Seravalli said on his podcast that he heard “it’s OK” and suggested Pittsburgh or Crosby reach a deal with Canadians. He stressed that speculation seems to be rooted entirely from betting boards and idle conversations, rather than actual frontcourt events.
Seravalli’s comments are important, as he has been one of the most popular journalists at Penguin Front in recent years. His dismissal of the rumor is in stark contrast to earlier speculation cycles that rely more on indirect cues. While there is nothing to rule out in professional sports, insiders stressed that there is no motivation in Crosby’s move to Montreal.
Canadians’ perspective
Montreal will have a huge motivation to pursue Crosby. Even later in his career, adding a generation-to-generation player could change the trajectory of the young roster, which already includes emerging talents like Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky. However, the cost will be huge and may require multiple top prospects, draft capital and a large amount of cap manipulation.
Montreal, led by general manager Kent Hughes, also continued to be patient, who emphasized sustainable growth in short-term gambling. Given the age gap between his developmental core and Canadians, Crosby represents a cultural fit, but not necessarily an organization.
Looking to the future
Since speculation tends to do so, this story goes beyond its actual basis. Crosby remains an elite player on the team contract he has led since 2005. Although the Penguins have questions about their long-term competitive path, the credible report highlights that the team remains committed to its captain.
That is, hockey is a sport that is usually defined by unexpected turns. Penguins are in a tight balance between expanding their careers in basic stars and preparing for inevitable transitions. If things change, whether by missing the playoffs, in management priorities or Crosby’s own personal decisions – the conversation can be materially on the way.
However, for the moment, speculation about Crosby’s move to Montreal is still speculation. Despite its energy surrounding it, there is no tangible evidence to associate the penguins or their captain with the upcoming deal. As the Penguins continue their internal assessments, Montreal establishes to the next window, the conversation is unlikely to disappear completely. But according to the closest case, Crosby is still a penguin and cannot see the trade.
