Sidney Crosby Timeline Gains Steam: ‘I'm Now More in the Belief He'll Be Traded'

A trio of NHL analysts are debating the future of Sidney Crosby with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Elliotte Friedman and David Pagnotta seem to agree with one another, while David Pagnotta isn't as sure.

Will he be traded or won't he? That's the question on the minds of Penguins fans and analysts everywhere, especially given the uncertainty surrounding captain and franchise icon Sidney Crosby's future with the team.

The Penguins have missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the last 3 years, marking the longest drought of Crosby's career. Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas has already made considerable changes in leadership, removing Mike Sullivan and replacing him with former New York Rangers assistant coach Dan Muse.

Additionally, former Penguins Stanley Cup winner (and teammate of Crosby) Nick Bonino is joining his staff as an assistant.

In the meantime, the Penguins aren't expected to realistically compete for a postseason spot, and could also soon lose Crosby's fellow franchise icon Evgeni Malkin, whose contract expires next summer.

So, what does the future hold? Right now, both Elliotte Friedman and Nick Kypreos seem to think that Crosby will be traded from the Penguins and that it could even be after the Olympics break early next year, while David Pagnotta isn't as sure.

Nick Kypreos: I am now more in the belief that Sidney Crosby will be traded; if they're really bad, the likelihood he's traded after the Olympics grows

Elliotte Friedman: I've wondered about that; I completely agree with you; the only one thing people argue with me about is, he's such a creature of habit, do you want to trade him in-season?