Whenever names like Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby are mentioned in trade rumors, they make headlines, and for good reason. A potential move that takes Crosby away from the Pittsburgh Penguins is not just a wild idea anymore: it is realer than ever, with hockey insiders like Elliotte Friedman believing that the Montreal Canadiens are high up on the list of potential future destinations for Crosby.
While the community awaits further updates about Crosby’s status with bated breath, another monumental change could be underway in the Penguins’ brass: a change of ownership. If the Pittsburgh outfit changes owners, moving Crosby could face new challenges.
Is an Ownership Change Imminent at the Pittsburgh Penguins?
The Hoffmann family has been a serious contender to acquire the Penguins from the Fenway Sports Group, which has owned the team since 2021. Writing on the subject for The Athletic, Josh Yohe stated that while FSG is not desperate to strike a deal surrounding the Pittsburgh outfit, it could still happen.
The Hoffmann family can expect to pay around $2 billion if they plan to acquire the Penguins. “A sale is not a given. In fact, this is typically the time when deals of this nature often fall through. We’re talking about close to $2 billion here, and a lot of powerful businesspeople are involved. Nothing is a given, but FSG is very clearly ready to move on if a deal is officially struck,” wrote Yohe.
What I’m hearing on young players who could make the team, Dan Muse’s early impact and much more: https://t.co/Eqa9momZBu
— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) September 24, 2025
If Pittsburgh’s ownership changes, it could interfere with Dubas’ plan of moving Crosby elsewhere. The Penguins are synonymous with the 38-year-old. Notwithstanding his age, Crosby is more than a hockey player: he is a cultural icon.
The Pittsburgh outfit has been largely fashioned around Crosby. “If I were a member of the Hoffmann family, for instance, I probably wouldn’t be thrilled about the idea of Sidney Crosby’s name being in trade rumors. You wouldn’t want your most valuable player, even at his age, being traded before you were about to buy the team.”
However, Dubas remains unfazed; the Penguins’ GM is unperturbed by the rumors surrounding a change in ownership, as he continues to manage the team in a way that suits him. Yohe further writes that there is a good chance that he has not received any instructions prohibiting him from making moves. Dubas has been willing to offer his best players, but for a fair price.
If Crosby is moved to Montreal, it will be a change like no other in the Penguins community. Whether a potential ownership change could disrupt such plans remains to be seen. However, both appear to be nothing but speculation at the moment.
