Will Sidney Crosby leave Pittsburgh Penguins? Montreal Canadiens trade proposal sparks fresh NHL trade rumors and debate | NHL News
Now, Sidney Crosby trade rumors have begun to swirl as the Pittsburgh Penguins captain enters the final year of his current contract. Crosby is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027, but his agent Pat Brisson has told The Athletic that contract talks with the Penguins are expected to take place before summer is over.Speculation heated up when Sid Seixeiro floated the idea of the Montreal Canadiens targeting Crosby and suggested a deal involving Michael Hage and Montreal’s 2027 first-round pick. That’s still a thought, not proof that the two NHL teams are actually negotiating a trade.
Sidney Crosby NHL trade proposal puts Montreal Canadiens in spotlight
The trade would send Sidney Crosby from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Montreal Canadiens for Michael Hage and a 2027 first-round pick.The idea quickly led to controversy because Crosby is still one of the most productive veteran forwards in the NHL. In the 2025-26 NHL season, he scored 29 goals and 45 assists for 74 points in 68 games, and his age has not diminished his offensive impact.Sid Seixeiro put forward the suggestion as a bold, hypothetical move for the Montreal Canadiens, not that a deal was in the works. But the idea still garnered attention because Crosby would be a massive boost to Montreal’s veteran core.The proposed package also explains why the scenario has become contentious. The Canadiens have a big young asset in Michael Hage, and a 2027 first-round pick would be another significant piece of future value for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
What is Sidney Crosby’s Pittsburgh Penguins contract status ?
Sidney Crosby is entering the final year of his current contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. His next deal will be a major part of the NHL trade rumors surrounding him. His deal runs through the 2026-27 season with an annual cap hit of $8.7 million.But the contract situation does not now immediately indicate a trade. According to reporting from Josh Yohe of The Athletic, Crosby’s agent Pat Brisson said that it is understood the deal will be addressed before the summer ends.Contract talks are expected leading up to the 2026-27 NHL regular season. Crosby’s been a fan of shorter extensions in the past, and reports in the last few days have suggested another one- or two-year deal could be in play. That timeline allows the Pittsburgh Penguins to clear up the uncertainty before trade speculation becomes a bigger issue.
Why could Sidney Crosby still matter to Montreal Canadiens?
The Montreal Canadiens would be adding an elite veteran center and one of the NHL’s most accomplished leaders in Sidney Crosby. It would be a big jump beyond his individual numbers, given his production, playoff experience and ability to influence younger players.But for Montreal, the bigger question would be if giving up Michael Hage and a first-round pick in 2027 is worth it for a 39-year-old player who could be nearing the end of his career. The Canadiens would need to balance short-term competitiveness with long-term roster development.There has been no confirmed trade reported. The Montreal Canadiens-Pittsburgh Penguins scenario is a hypothetical proposal that has been floated publicly, not an announced NHL transaction. Crosby is signed with Pittsburgh through the 2026-27 season, and extension talks are expected to happen.For now, the development is more an NHL trade rumor and talking point than proof that Sidney Crosby is leaving the Pittsburgh Penguins. The next contract conversation with Pittsburgh will likely give a much better indication of what his future holds.
