Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Top NHL Insider Who Predicted Mike Sullivan's Firing Hints at Possible Sidney Crosby Trade
Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

NHL analyst and commentator John Buccigross, who predicted Mike Sullivan's firing in Pittsburgh, is now hinting at a possible trade of Sidney Crosby.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are in a period of transition, having parted ways with head coach Mike Sullivan after he spent nearly 10 years on the job.

The Penguins are now one of a handful of NHL clubs looking for a new head coach; Sullivan has already gotten himself new employment, as he was hired by the New York Rangers.

NHL analyst and commentator John Buccigross, who had initially predicted that the Penguins would move on from Sullivan, is now suggesting that Sidney Crosby could soon ask for a trade.

Buccigross also even suggested a specific location - the Montreal Canadiens.

I would like Sid to wake up one day and say, 'I want to go play for Montreal. That was my team as a kid, they're coming, they're on the up.' I think that's the place. If Sid is going to go anywhere...Biz, I know you've talked about Colorado, but to me, Montreal is the only place he would go.

Buccigross then continued:

If he wakes up tomorrow and says, 'You know what, this doesn't make sense.' Let them hire a young coach, let them start to start over. Give Geno his final year next year, the last year of his deal, let him walk off. He still wants to play, he can go elsewhere....we'd like to honor you the entire year long and send you off. If he wants to play, go ahead, but this is our plan. I'd tell him this summer, too, that this is our plan for you.

As odd as it would be to see Crosby wear the sweater of another NHL franchise, it's become clear that the Penguins will not be in championship contention any time soon.

Could he decide he wants to try for one last Stanley Cup win in his career?

This article first appeared on House of Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST

Important trade stalls as Maple Leafs dangle bottom-six forward
NHL

Important trade stalls as Maple Leafs dangle bottom-six forward

The Toronto Maple Leafs are still looking for a solution to their bottom-six surplus, and veteran forward Calle Jarnkrok remains at the center of trade discussions. However, according to The Fourth Period, trade talks surrounding the 33-year-old winger have failed to gain momentum. They write: “He has a $2.1M cap hit and owns a 10-team no-trade list. The market hasn’t been vibrant, to this point, but the Leafs will continue to dangle him.” Why can’t the Maple Leafs find a taker for Jarnkrok? Jarnkrok has quietly been on the trade block for much of the offseason, but general manager Brad Treliving has yet to find a taker. After adding several depth forwards this summer, the Leafs now face a crowded bottom six — and Jarnkrok’s age, injury history and $2.1M cap hit through 2025–26 aren’t helping his value. Since joining Toronto, Jarnkrok has appeared in only 71 games over two seasons, scoring a modest 28 points. While his defensive versatility and penalty-killing ability are assets, his declining offensive production and durability concerns have made teams wary. With training camp approaching, the Maple Leafs may be forced to keep Jarnkrok on the roster — or retain salary in a deal — if they want to create space and flexibility. Dropping his cap hit down to just over $1M would open up the market a little. Until then, the Swedish forward remains a trade candidate in limbo. This isn’t great news as moving Jarnkrok from the roster is an important item on the team’s to-do list. Treliving would like more cap space, and with Jarnkrok and David Kampf both still on the roster, it hampers the GM’s ability to do other things.

Dodgers Facing Trade Decision After Blake Snell News
MLB

Dodgers Facing Trade Decision After Blake Snell News

Left-handed starting pitcher Blake Snell is in his tenth major-league season after making his debut with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016. Snell spent time with the San Diego Padres, then signed a deal with the San Francisco Giants after the 2023 season, which he later opted out of to enter free agency in 2024. The 32-year-old veteran signed a five-year, $182 million contract this offseason with the Los Angeles Dodgers after an exceptional 2024 campaign. Snell earned such a lucrative contract thanks to his outstanding career to date, which includes two Cy Young Awards and an All-Star appearance. Over 213 career starts, he owns a 77–58 record, a 3.18 ERA and 1,372 strikeouts. Snell was placed on the injured list on April 6 (retroactive to April 3) with left shoulder inflammation after experiencing discomfort during a bullpen session; he had made only two starts for the Dodgers before the injury. After four minor-league rehab outings, manager Dave Roberts announced on Sunday that Snell is expected to rejoin the rotation next week. With his return looming, the Dodgers have decided to shift to a six-man rotation but now face a decision on right-hander Dustin May’s roster status. May returned to a full-time starting role for the first time in two seasons and has struggled. On Sunday against the Boston Red Sox, May allowed four runs in five innings of work, and he entered the start with an ERA of 4.73. May’s name has surfaced in trade rumors, and he is a candidate to potentially be moved to the bullpen. He is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.

Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
NFL

Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice

Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.

Raiders DC Patrick Graham couldn't be happier that one of his star pupils is back looking how he's supposed to look
NFL

Raiders DC Patrick Graham couldn't be happier that one of his star pupils is back looking how he's supposed to look

The Las Vegas Raiders were without Malcolm Koonce last season after he tore his ACL before the season started. So, they had to rely on production from other players, like Charles Snowden, K'Lavon Chaisson, Tyree Wilson, and others. And, to be fair to those guys, it worked -- despite all of the injuries the Raiders had on the defensive line last season, to Koonce, Maxx Crosby, Christian Wilkins, and Tyree Wilson, the defensive line was still really, really good, and that's props to Robbie Leonard, the DL coach. Now, it's been a year -- Koonce, who hasn't played in a year, was brought back as a free agent on a one-year deal, where he will get to prove himself, that he's still the same guy despite the injury. If he is, they will likely bring him back on a bigger, long-term deal. If he's not, then the Raiders may just move on. Koonce has been back at camp, and the Raiders couldn't be happier to see him. Patrick Graham is happy to see Malcolm Koonce at training camp “I'm excited for him to get a chance to get out there and get better. I'm glad he’s back. His energy both on the field and in the classroom is infectious. The fact that he goes out there and executes at a high level, it’s always encouraging to see that, and it’s a good example for other players," defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said on Day 4 of training camp. 2023 was a crazy season for Koonce. His performance was particularly notable in the second half of the season, where he recorded six of his eight sacks and 10 of his 17 quarterback hits in the final four games, with a standout game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day, where he notched a career-high three sacks and eight pressures against Patrick Mahomes. He was balling, for sure. His performance surged after Week 8, with 35 pressures, seven sacks, six tackles for loss, 15 quarterback hits, and three forced fumbles, establishing him as one of the NFL’s top pass rushers during that stretch. If the Raiders can get that back in 2025, things are going to get scary for the rest of the league.

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!