PITTSBURGH — It's possible that Sidney Crosby has softened his stance on being a Penguin for life. It'd be understandable, too. But I also have to wonder if Crosby might be quarterbacking a power play to get Mario Lemieux back in the building.

Either way, this is by far the biggest story in Pittsburgh sports at the moment. Crosby's powerful agent, Pat Brisson, made it so when he launched a grenade into the hockey world Monday night. Brisson does not do that if Crosby doesn't know he's doing it.

Asked by The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun if Crosby would entertain a trade out of Pittsburgh "one day," Brisson said, "I mean, I'm answering something that ... let's put it this way: It's always a possibility, you know?"

That is far different from what Crosby told the same outlet early last season, which was this: "I've said I'm going to always be here. I just signed a new contract to be here. I've been very upfront about it — I'm a Pittsburgh Penguin."

Crosby, incidentally, had a chance to repeat that statement yesterday at the NHL player media tour in Las Vegas, specifically asked about rumors linking him to his childhood favorite team, the Montreal Canadiens.

Instead, he said this: "I get it, trust me. They're so into it [in Montreal], and I get it as to why that would come up and that sort of thing. It doesn't make it any easier when you're losing, for sure, to hear those things, but at the same time, to know that a team like that wants you, it's not the end of the world. It could be worse. I just think that's part of it."

By the way, if Sid has indeed softened his stance on a trade, good for him. And maybe good for the Penguins in terms of jumpstarting their rebuild, or their retool, or whatever they want to call it.

After two decades of giving, giving, giving — giving us Stanley Cups, giving back millions of dollars in salary in order to keep the team competitive, giving himself in every imaginable way — maybe Crosby is thinking of himself for once.

And maybe, as LeBrun put it, "The current Canadiens front office would move heaven and earth to trade for Crosby if he and the Penguins ever indicated that was actually a possibility."

Unless I've lost my ability to read, I believe Brisson indicated just that when he said "it's always a possibility." And make no mistake, Crosby and Brisson would be making that decision. Not the Penguins.

The Canadiens have an outstanding young core and a highly rated farm system. The Penguins could raid both, taking the best of both and more. Crosby could always come back and finish his career here.

Anyway, Brisson continued his conversation with LeBrun Monday by telling him, "It's been three years they haven't made the playoffs. [Whether Crosby would ever entertain a trade] all depends on how Sid is going to be and how the team is going to do. I maintain the same position that I do believe that he should be playing playoff hockey every year, in my opinion."

So, again, this much is inarguable: Crosby's camp has suddenly changed its talking points. And it can't just be about the losing. The losing was expected and is not likely to end anytime soon.

I have to wonder if there is something more here. Could this indeed be a move to put the Lemieux/Ron Burkle group in better position to buy the team back from Fenway Sports Group?

Without Crosby, the Penguins suddenly become much less attractive, right? Would David Hoffmann or any other potential suitor back off if Crosby trade talk heats up?

You'd have to think suitors would have much less interest in buying the team and giving FSG — the F standing for "Franchise Flippers" — a near billion-dollar profit from when they bought the club just four years ago.

Perhaps Crosby isn't thrilled that FSG subsequently alienated Lemieux over a financial disagreement — he is no longer around the team — and is wary of new ownership, combined with the current state of the team.

Why would Crosby feel loyal to a guy named David Hoffmann and his family?

Meanwhile, if the Penguins start poorly, does Kyle Dubas start selling off parts? Would Crosby want to be a part of that? I'm guessing he'd love to play with Gavin McKenna, but that is literally a lottery's chance.

Just last month, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that the Lemieux group's offer was "well below" FSG's alleged price. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported the expected price is $1.75 billion, and the Hoffmann group was close to finalizing a deal.

"I gotta think that's where the Penguins would want to be," Friedman wrote. "From what I understand, that bid is just not close to that at this point in time. ... That's a story that probably doesn't go away for a while."

He got that right. Brisson and Crosby made sure of it.

____

© 2025 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Visit www.post-gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.