Sidney Crosby Set to Decide Trade Fate of Two Penguins Forwards as Deadline Approaches
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The Trade Deadline is approaching, and Penguins captain Sidney Crosby could have a say in the fate of a pair of players and their future in Pittsburgh.
All signs point toward the Pittsburgh Penguins missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 3rd straight year, which will mark the longest drought of Penguins captain Sidney Crosby's career.
They're also likely to make one or several trades as the Trade Deadline approaches approaches.
Per Chris Bengal of CBS Sports, Crosby could have the major effect on the fate of players who have been tossed into trade rumours including Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust.
Forwards like Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust would definitely fetch strong returns at the trade deadline, but Crosby also might have a say in pieces like that being shipped out of town.
Bengal also suggests the most realistic trade chip at Pittsburgh's disposal being defenseman Erik Karlsson.
The most logical trade chip might be defenseman Erik Karlsson. Since being acquired in the 2023 offseason, Karlsson's tenure in Pittsburgh has been up-and-down. If the Penguins receive a decent offer, it's going to be tough to turn down getting some of Karlsson's massive salary off of the books.
The only question is whether general manager Kyle Dubas will pull the trigger when it comes to the team's veteran assets.
Rakell has been with Pittsburgh since 2022 when he was acquired via trade with the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Dominik Simon, Zach Aston-Reese, and Calle Clang. Meanwhile, Rust is the 4th-longest tenured player on the Penguins after Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang.
Additionally, Karlsson is in his 2nd year with the Penguins after being acquired in a major trade with the San Jose Sharks; his last year in San Jose, he won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman with 101 points, but his stats have been nowhere that since then.
The Penguins are likely entering what will be a difficult rebuilding process under criticized GM Kyle Dubas, and fans could soon be in for tough times.
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