With the 2025 NHL season coming close, barely ten weeks away, Sidney Crosby’s trade speculation is going wild. Earlier, it was reported that the Penguins’ captain is likely to end his career in Pittsburgh, with general manager Kyle Dubas saying “no” to the veteran’s exit. But if the latest reports are anything, Crosby’s trade seems inevitable now.

In a major rebuild step, the Pittsburgh Front Office is not keen on extending Crosby’s teammate Evgeni Malkin’s contract after his 4-year, $24.4 million contract ends this season. And ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski’s take on ‘what happens if the Penguins can’t turn things around this upcoming season,’ has everyone talking.

“If the Penguins get off to the start that we assume they’re going to get off to… I think he [Sidney] moves on before the end of the season, that’s my prediction,” he said on The Sheet. All this and more has only amplified the rumors. However, things may not be as bad as the rumors indicate. NHL insider Frank Seravalli revealed whether Sidney Crosby has responded to some teams showing interest.

“I think there’s been some teams, or a short list, Montreal, LA Kings, Avalanche, those are the teams have been talked about, but he hasn’t shown any interest… in moving,” Seravalli told Bleacher Report on July 15 as per NHL Rumour Report on X. Well, that seems on brand with the 37-year-old Hart Memorial Trophy winner, because this is far from the first time.

Sidney Crosby is no stranger to such rumors, and this past season, reporters asked the hockey icon about age, bringing him closer to retirement. The Penguins’ captain explained that his focus is on playing. “I don’t think about it a whole lot. I just try to prepare for the next one,” said the Canadian NHL star. However, two of the teams Frank Seravalli named have created more buzz than others.

The standouts among the Sidney Crosby contenders

Of the multiple teams reportedly bidding to get the Team Canada captain, the experts have given the edge to two teams. First up? The Colorado Avalanche. Why, you ask? Well, it’s thanks to the Avs having Crosby’s friend and national teammate Nathan MacKinnon on the squad. The pair have known one another for years and enjoy their time playing on the national team.

Even if you put the chemistry aside, Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon recently proved that they make quite the duo. Earlier this year, in February, the duo helped Canada beat rivals USA to bring home the 4 Nations Face-Off trophy. Then again, MacKinnon recently denied a claim that the 37-year-old had signed with his team as “fake news.”

So that leaves us with the Montreal Canadiens. “I’ve long believed he’ll end his career in Montreal,” Wyshynski also said on The Sheet.“I always assumed if it wasn’t Pittsburgh, it was going to be Montreal, that’s kind of where I’m at with it; the Colorado thing is sort of like a pipedream,” the ESPN analyst explained. What’s more? He wasn’t the only one.

NHL insider Nick Kypreos confidently proclaimed that Sidney Crosby will ultimately end up with the Canadiens even if it takes a bit more time. Wait till they [Montreal Canadiens] get Sid Crosby after the [2026 Milan Cortina] Olympics. I’m liking the odds a little better than I did maybe a few weeks ago,” the insider told Justin Bourne and Sam MacKee. Despite all this speculation, for now, Crosby is staying put, just like Frank Seravalli said.