The Pittsburgh Penguins entered the 2025 NHL offseason with a clear message: everyone is available for the right price. General Manager Kyle Dubas announced the team’s rebuild plans, putting most veterans on the trading block. But here’s where it gets interesting: recent rumors suggest even Sidney Crosby, the franchise cornerstone for two decades, might not be untouchable. That possibility has sparked intense debate about what it would actually take to separate the captain from the only NHL home he’s ever known.
What Would Force Sidney Crosby to Leave Pittsburgh?
Since the Penguins selected him first overall in 2005, Crosby has defined franchise loyalty. Across 20 seasons, he’s accumulated more than 625 goals and 1,062 assists, establishing himself as Pittsburgh’s best player since Mario Lemieux. When Dubas first outlined his dismantling plans, fans assumed Crosby would remain off-limits.
However, recent reports indicate the GM’s willingness to move any player has broadened to include everyone. On the recent episode of ‘NHL Tonight’, host Jamison Coyle posed the question to NHL analysts Mike Rupp and Brian Boyle: What circumstances would drive Crosby away?
Boyle addressed the team’s current trajectory directly. “So this is a team that is clearly rebuilding,” he explained.
What would it take for Sidney Crosby to leave Pittsburgh?@Rupper17 and @BriBrows22 answer a burning question on the future of the of the Penguins. 🔥@JamisonCoyle | #NHLTonight | #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/U5WeX5ruA9
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The analyst expects additional roster moves before training camp begins. “And I still think there’s probably moves to be had before camp starts, and whether that’s Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust, this lineup’s gonna get less explosive if it’s a polite way of putting it,” Boyle continued.
Despite the roster changes swirling around him, Crosby remains Pittsburgh’s offensive catalyst. His 91 points led the team’s scoring charts this past season. But Boyle doesn’t believe immediate circumstances would push Crosby toward an exit. “And here’s the thing is I don’t think the one thing that would get him to potentially leave. I think it’s just playing out this season,” he observed.
The analyst identified Evgeni Malkin as a crucial factor in Crosby’s potential decision-making process. “And if getting Malkin riding off into the sunset, if he’s going to retire and not be a Penguin now, that would break up the core guys,” Boyle explained. The longtime partnership between Crosby and Malkin has anchored Pittsburgh’s success for years.
Boyle sees next summer as the critical decision point. “I think next summer would be that decision-making time, and potentially Sidney Crosby may be leaving.”
Why Does 1 Analyst Believe Crosby Will Stay and Fight?
Rupp takes a different stance on Crosby’s future. The analyst believes Crosby won’t be leaving this year, regardless of external predictions about the team’s performance. “And I don’t think what their roster looks like in terms of what people might predict for wins for them. I don’t think Sidney Crosby’s going to let that happen,” Rupp stated.
Rupp’s assessment centers on Crosby’s competitive nature and unwillingness to accept defeat quietly. “I think he’s going to go kicking and screaming, trying to drag this franchise into relevance and stay in the mix no matter what, like he’s done,” the analyst explained.
The analyst pointed to Crosby’s history of sacrifice for the organization. Throughout his career, Crosby has accepted team-friendly contracts and invested himself deeply in the Pittsburgh community. According to Rupp, these factors make departure unlikely.
However, Rupp acknowledges that every player reaches a breaking point eventually. The ultimate decision rests with Crosby himself and how he responds to the direction Dubas takes the franchise. The captain’s loyalty runs deep, but even the most devoted players face limits to their patience when competitive windows close.
