Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby. Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Sidney Crosby's agent has strong words for trade buzz amid Penguins rebuild

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Jun 28, 2025 9:46 AM ET

With the Pittsburgh Penguins on the front edge of a full-scale rebuild, there has been some speculation as to what it might mean for longtime captain and franchise icon Sidney Crosby. Is he going to be content to ride out a rebuilding phase at the end of his career? Or would he want to potentially move on to another team for one more legitimate shot at a Stanley Cup?

With the first round of the NHL Draft kicking off on Friday night, the speculation about Crosby playing for another team was again brought up when former NHL player Georges Laraque posted about it on social media.

That speculation was promptly shot down by Crosby's agent, Pat Brisson, who told longtime Penguins writer Rob Rossi that any trade rumors regarding Crosby were simply baseless rumors.

Pat Brisson, agent for Sidney Crosby, told me just now in text message that speculation about Crosby leaving Penguins are “baseless rumors.”

So, there’s a name for you, too.#NHLDraft @TheAthleticNHL @penguins
— Rob Rossi (@Real_RobRossi) June 28, 2025

Even though the Penguins have missed the postseason three years in a row and are likely to miss it again this upcoming season, Crosby has never, at any point, offered any hint of displeasure with the Penguins and just signed a two-year contract extension prior to the 2024-25 season.

The Penguins might be rebuilding, but they do not seem willing to completely tear the organization down to the foundation and are hoping to become competitive again sometime in the near future. Perhaps even while Crosby is still playing in the NHL.

Not only that, but Crosby is the second-best player in franchise history behind Mario Lemieux and one of the best players of all time. It is important for both sides that he be a "one jersey" player, and the only way that would likely ever change is if Crosby initiated it.

He has, again, shown zero desire to do that.

Until that changes, any speculation on Crosby's future is just that — speculation. It is usually baseless. He and his agent seem content to keep silencing it every time it becomes necessary.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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