NHL Rumors: Sidney Crosby’s future in Pittsburgh, Marc-Andre Fleury almost re-acquired by Penguins, and more
Anthony Scultore
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The Pittsburgh Penguins dominate today’s NHL Rumor Mill talk with some big names. What’s Sidney Crosby’s future look like? Did the Pens almost trade for Marc-Andre Fleury? Let’s dive in.
NHL Rumors: Sidney Crosby in Colorado or New York?
Darren Dreger was on TV yesterday and began the Penguins this season and beyond. Should they fail to make the playoffs some hard conversations will need to take place. That’s when he Dreger raised some eyebrows with his comments.
“It wouldn’t shock me AT ALL,” he began with emphasis, “if Sid said ‘look I want my legacy to be you collected the pieces based on moving me to the Colorado Avalanche or the New York Rangers or whatever the team is’.”
So let me get this straight, one of the best insiders who speaks with GM’s, players, and agents wouldn’t be shocked if Crosby would be open to a trade? And then selectively connecting him to either Colorado or New York?
Both the Avalanche and Rangers would have the type of pieces the Penguins are looking for. They likely would be very willing to take on Crosby and his reasonable $8.7 million cap hit for the next 4 years too.
Early speculation, but coming from the top insider in the game – you have to listen.
NHL Rumors: Penguins almost brought back Marc-Andre Fleury
So recently Bob McKenzie dropped a little nugget the the Penguins called the Golden Knights about Marc-Andre Fleury. There would obviously need to be some salary retention by Vegas to facilitate a deal but the Penguins would also need to send salary back to make MAF fit.
Keep an eye on this one at the trade deadline.
Sam Bennett for DeAngelo still a possibility?
Hailey Salvian of The Athletic did a deeper dive into the Sam Bennett for Tony DeAngelo rumors from over a week ago. Her reporting could not confirm the Flames interest and she further does not see DeAngelo as a fit on the Flames current top four defense.
Rumours aside, the Rangers could be a legitimate trade partner if there is a different, less controversial return. The Rangers have been shuffling their lines consistently throughout the first month of the season. Bennett could come in and be a good fit on the second-line right wing with Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome. Or as a third-line centre as opposed to Brett Howden who is currently in that spot. On the third-line left-wing? Just No. 1 overall pick Alexis Lafrenière.
The Athletic
The question really becomes if the Rangers have any real interest in Sam Bennett to facilitate deal. It depends on the asking price, but waiting two weeks for quarantine protocols after a deal is another hindrance.