Latest trade rumour angers Sidney Crosby and could lead to more problems in Pittsburgh

Last week, the Pittsburgh Penguins traded forward Lars Eller to the Washington Capitals in return for a third-round pick in 2025 and a fifth-round pick in 2027. Team insider Josh Yohe for The Athletic is adamant more moves are expected for the Pens and reports that general manager Kyle Dubas would like to move Ryan Graves, Tristan Jarry and Erik Karlsson.

However, Yohe remains unsure Dubas can pull it off seeing that, as of right now, other clubs likely aren’t interested in them.

That means the focus has shifted to other players, excluding captain Sidney Crosby and star forward Evgeni Malkin, who are said to be untouchable in Pittsburgh. Yohe reports that defenseman Marcus Pettersson and winger Rickard Rakell are most likely to be moved by the March 7 trade deadline. He even believes the blue liner could be heading to Canada with both the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks showing interest in Pettersson, however creating another Jake Guentzel situation in Steel City.

“ League sources said the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks have interest in the lanky defenseman, and there’s every reason to believe other teams will covet him. In the final year of his contract, Pettersson is set to break the bank when free agency opens next summer. The Penguins value Pettersson, but they value replenishing their system considerably more. This is essentially the Guentzel situation all over again.

“Pettersson is as good as gone.”

When GM Dubas traded Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes last season at the March deadline, a lot of frustration came in the Penguins’ dressing room with Crosby expressing his concerns for his team’s future. I can’t imagine what another similar trade would do to the captain and club’s morale.

Yohe also claims that forward Bryan Rust could be on the move closer to the deadline if things don’t look up for the Penguins. Though the veteran still has a full no-trade clause on his contract until the end of the 2024-25 season and could veto the move. Crosby loves playing with Rust and that could also be a huge issue for the captain.

Let’s not even mention the idea of trading defenseman Kris Letang, who signed a six-year deal with the Penguins in 2022 with a desire to finish his career in Pittsburgh with buddies Sid and Geno. If Dubas were to move him, he would face many obstacles as Yohe puts it: “he’s 37, comes with a significant health history and has played poorly this season.”

There is a lot happening in Pittsburgh at this time and not a lot of it is pleasing Crobsy and the core 3 who wants to stick together for another run at the Stanley Cup.