Penguins and Canucks linked in serious trade talks

It's painfully obvious to a majority of hockey fans that the Penguins are in desperate need of an overhaul and a rebuild.

Nearly every move that GM Kyle Dubas has made has been a mistake (Sound familiar Leafs fans?) and time is running out to save this team's season. There are rumors that long-time head coach Mike Sullivan is on thin ice, which is entirely predictable. The Penguins would probably be wise to part with Sullivan at this point, but they shouldn't stop there.

Most Penguins fans online seem to agree that a full-scale, tear it all down rebuild is necessary to get the team back to prominence. All the team is accomplishing now is playing out the credits of Malkin's, Crosby's and Letang's careers. There's a growing sentiment amongst the teams' fanbase to rip the bandaid off of this oozing wound of a team and to begin the healing process in earnest. A Sullivan firing would be just the start. These fans are also calling for Malkin, Letang, Karlsson and... gasp!... Sidney Crosby to be put on the trade-block.

There have been rumors that the Colorado Avalanche are interested in acquiring Crosby, but today Penguins insider Josh Yohe named another team who he feels Crosby may be interested in joining: The Vancouver Canucks.

Yohe points to Crosby's history with Rick Tocchet, Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin as people that Crosby respects and loves to play for.

From Yohe:

"If I'm Sid and I do want to be traded someday that would probably be my top choice, or right up there. I do know that he loves Tocchet and he loves Rutherford. I know he likes Patrik Allvin and there are a lot of other former Penguins on that Vancouver roster. So yeah, it all makes sense to me. I just think it's unlikely to happen. He's a creature of habit and he's incredibly comfortable here in Pittsburgh."

- Josh Yohe

Like Yohe reports, it seems unlikely that a Crosby trade will go down, but there's no doubt that Dubas is interested in shaking things up. Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman reports that there's interest in Canucks forward Nils Hoglander around the NHL and that the Penguins could be the perfect fit.

From Friedman's most recent 32 Thoughts podcast:

"I think there are some teams that are very interested, I think Pittsburgh would be one of those teams, he's signed and Pittsburgh makes a lot of sense, you look at the players that Pittsburgh is collecting, Hoglander fits it."

- Elliotte Friedman

Honestly... that makes a lot more sense than a Crosby trade.

So... what's a fair deal? Certainly the Canucks would like a roster player in return? Marcus Pettersson? Rickard Rakell?