NHL Rumor Mill – September 10, 2025
Penguins star Sidney Crosby addresses the trade rumors swirling around him, the Devils’ Jack Hughes would love to play alongside brother Quinn, and the latest on Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
CROSBY ADDRESSES TRADE RUMORS
TRIBLIVE.COM: Sidney Crosby is aware of the trade rumors swirling around him, now that he and the Pittsburgh Penguins have missed the playoffs for the last three years.
“I understand it,” Crosby said to reporters during the NHL player media tour in Las Vegas on Tuesday. “That’s the hard part about losing. Everybody thinks that the losing is the buzzer goes (off), you lose a game and that sucks, but there’s so much more than that. It’s the turnover. It’s the unknown, the uncertainty, the question marks. That’s the stuff that’s tough.”
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).
Crosby is starting a two-year contract with a full no-movement clause. However, rumors have linked the 38-year-old center to the Colorado Avalanche (where close friend Nathan MacKinnon plays) and his childhood team, the Montreal Canadiens.
“I get it, trust me,” Crosby said, recalling being in Montreal in June early in his NHL career and marveling about how the broadcasts were already projecting the training camp lineups for September.
“They’re so into it, 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.”
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun asked Crosby’s agent, Pat Brisson, if he thought it possible that his client might be traded before his contract expires in 2027.
“I mean, I’m answering something that…let’s put it this way, it’s always a possibility, you know?,” Brisson said. “It’s been three years they haven’t made the playoffs. It all depends on how Sid is going to be and how the team is doing. I maintain the same position that I do believe that he should be playing playoff hockey every year. In my opinion.”
LeBrun writes that Crosby only sees himself as a Penguin for life. However, he wondered if that could change with another losing season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some pundits have been stumping for Crosby to accept a trade to Colorado, Montreal, or another major hockey market where he’ll get a chance to chase the Stanley Cup once more, “for the good of the game,” as some have intoned.
Another year of losing might change Crosby’s mind. However, the decision rests with him. His camp won’t pressure him into it, and the Penguins aren’t going to push him out if he wants to finish his career in Pittsburgh.
Sidney Crosby will do what he thinks is best for himself. He won’t do it because of what others want him to do. Whatever he decides when the time comes, we should respect that decision.
JACK HUGHES HOPES TO PLAY ALONGSIDE BROTHER QUINN
THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston cited an interview that Jack Hughes had with The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, in which the Devils center admitted he’d love to play alongside his brother Quinn one day.
Quinn Hughes is the captain of the Vancouver Canucks. The 25-year-old defenseman is signed through 2026-27. Speculation over his future in Vancouver arose earlier this year after Canucks president Jim Rutherford said Quinn would one day like to play with his brothers, Jack and Luke.
“Honestly, I’m not afraid to say it,” Jack said. “Yeah, I would love for Quinn to – eventually I’d love to play with him. And whether that’s in New Jersey or at what time that takes, at some point, I want to play with Quinn. But yeah, that’s the question going around. They talk all day about it in Vancouver, you know? But yeah, I’d love to play with Quinn at some point.”
Johnston assumed that Rutherford and Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin would love to one day acquire Jack and Luke and have the Hughes’ reunite in Vancouver. However, that would be incredibly hard to pull off, making Quinn’s departure to New Jersey seem the more likely route.
According to Johnston, some might argue that if the Canucks don’t have a clearer view on Quinn’s future before the end of this season, they should consider trading him earlier when he’ll have more value with a year left on his contract.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols noted that the Devils still have to sign younger brother Luke to a new contract. “Perhaps the term of that contract will indicate if the Hughes brothers plan to play together in New Jersey, or elsewhere.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks’ efforts to rebound from last season’s disappointing performance could play a significant role in determining Quinn’s future in Vancouver. Meanwhile, Luke reportedly seeks a five-year contract taking him up to 2030, when Jack’s current contract is due to expire.
THE LATEST ON RASMUS ANDERSSON
CALGARY SUN: Daniel Austin reports Rasmus Andersson is eager to start this season with the Flames, despite being in the final season of his contract.
The 28-year-old defenseman is UFA-eligible next July, making him the subject of trade speculation this summer.
Andersson denied a rumor claiming he’d only accept a trade to the Vegas Golden Knights. “The thing that bothers you is fake information that comes out,” he said. “I saw some reports that I would only sign with one team and this and that and it’s the furthest from the truth.”
The blueliner also dismissed the notion that his contract status would be a distraction for the team.
Austin believes the most likely scenario is that Andersson gets traded at some point this season. However, GM Craig Conroy isn’t closing the door on a contract extension.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A good season for Andersson and the Flames might be a step toward a new deal. However, he could seek more in dollars and years than they’re willing to invest.
I fail to understand why an aging Crosby chasing another Stanley Cup with Colorado or Montreal is “for the good of hockey”. The pundits making this claim need to explain it.
Paul, Crosby getting traded to another team would be headline news and would generate a lot of focus on his new club. However, those pundits think it’s for the good of the game, but for selfish reasons, because it’s something they want to see.
A trade at this stage of an immediate Hall Of Fame-entry career – and one who has maintained top-tier performances year-in and year-out as he reached his late 30s – would be unique and unprecedented in the extreme in NHL history.
Ray Bourque?
I know that’s the real reason. I’d just like to see one of those pundits admit it. I go with logic. A logical question is why would Crosby sign a contract extension if he wants to play elsewhere? Wouldn’t it have made a lot more sense to do what Rick Nash did, some time last season? Ask Dubas to trade him and tell Pittsburgh’s fans he’s doing it so Dubas can get some futures which should help speed up the rebuild.
When they say good for the game. They mean marketing and interest.
because he is a superstar and having him in the playoffs draws eyes, sells tickets and create storylines.
The attention that is drawn has potential to witness some spectacular plays, both creative and novel that players of Crosby’s calibre are able to generate.
Crosby and MacKinnon passing the puck around has potential for some fun.
Having any substantial star in the playoffs is good for the game.
Paul, I am with you.
I think the bigger story line is him albeit a slight reach but he still has a shot at 2000 career points. Chasing that in the only city he played is special and I think that trumps a couple more playoff appearances imo.
The idea of him and ovie playing only for the same clubs they were drafted in is a unique rivalry and layer to their stories and the two clubs.
Don’t mess with that, cause you cannot undo it. Sid celebrating being #3 or #2 all time scorer or retiring in a different jersey is just not cool.
Finally Sid is not dumb…before signing he knew what Pittsburgh is facing in the near future. Let the man be.
I’ll put it this way.
I’m not a Montreal fan, nor am I a Crosby/Pitt fan.
But if he got traded to Montreal it would bring headlines, excitement, more national exposure, and I’d pay more attention to both of them to see how it played out the rest of the year.
Having a superstar play meaningless/playoffless games year after year is not a good thing for the player or the league overall (look no further than Mike Trout spending his career in Anahiem for baseball).
I’m shocked that Toronto hasn’t said that Sid wants to play in Toronto and he wants to go to Toronto to help them win the cup for Canada as he was always meant to…..
Mike Gartner?
For weeks we’ve pondered trades for current Pens and how Crosby would feel about a team appearing to be tanking. Now I think we know! Crosby to NYR at deadline would be a story. Can’t dismiss a reunion with Sullivan. Messier, Gretzky, and Dionne all finished careers in NY. That’s 3 of the top 6 all time scorers. Crosby sits 200 points behind 3rd place Messier.
And George, how about the great Guy Lafleur coming out of retirement after a hof career in Montreal?
“Can’t dismiss a reunion with Sullivan.”
Sure we can. Well, I can at least. Fairly easily, too.
But Lafleur wasn’t dealt … he was in effect a UFA when he came out of retirement to play for the NYR and then the Nordiques.
Best example of someone of Crosby’s stature being dealt in his late 30s – thanks to Whalercane for the reminder – was the great Ray Bourque.
George O. I get what you’re saying but with a full nmc, Crosby would basically be a FA. Hes not going anywhere he doesn’t want to be.
Whalercane, good example – thanks.
Dan Lynn, Gartner was 29 when first left Washington for Minnesota – then played for 3 more teams before calling it quits.
Now in terms of the Hughes.
Am I the only one that thinking having all three in NJ may not automatically be the honeymoon NJ seems to think it would be?
Personally its a dynamic i would avoid. Anyone with a sibling will understand why this may not be the best direction.
Kirill Kaprizov’s Camp Rejects Eight-Year, $16MM AAV Offer
Very interesting, especially since he won’t be able to get 8 years after this season.
I’m assuming there are 1 of 2 things driving this decision:
1) he wants lesser term to have more flexibility in the future.
2) he just plain wants out of Minny.
I’ve seen rumors that McDavid might sign a shorter 3-4 year deal. Something like that gives superstars 2 opportunities: if the team does not remain competitive, they can pick a new destination in the future, plus they are still young enough to cash in on another big $ contract when the cap is higher 4 years from now.
Contracts are complex. We dont know why he rejected.
I can dream up half a dozen reasons why he may have rejected this contract and none of which starts with him having any consideration of wanting out of Minny or wanting more money.
The Russian won’t play for 16 million per year.
Agents are something else, man.
He can always go back home and play in the KHL for a million
Or don a different uniform and “do his part” for Mother Russia in Ukraine! Twit.
If Pittsburgh is going the youth route Montreal has the best prospects to make a trade .Hughes/ Gorton would have to change their approach from insulating all their young players, because some would be headed to Pittsburgh.Crosby should have seen this coming because he obviously signed off on Pitt.retaining Malkin,Letang and Karlsson
Kaprizov ain’t getting that anywhere else. Injury prone left winger that has not won a playoff series
Didn”t Raymond Bourque
Retire after winning “A” Stanley cup. A little different story with Sid .
He only suffered significant injury last season playing just 1/2 of the season.
He had 3 good years before that playing 75games with 46G and 96pts, 67Ga 40G and 75pts, 81Ga 47G 108pts.
If you can play 67 games and score 40 goals, you deserve over $12M, but to turn down $16M for 8yrs!!! He is either on the move, or crazy to think he can get another very lucrative contract after 3-5 years. Injuries and age will take their toll on him and the guaranteed term and money is the best bet. One can always demand a trade if still healthy and playing superior hockey.
I think he told the team he does not want to play in Minnesota and is taking one for the team by rejecting the $16M so the team looks good to the fans,
I think he will play for a team of his choice for that amount or less.
Kaprizov lock in for 5 years at $9m which seemed like a lot at the time but pretty so-so for the final 2 years.
He probably wants that $16m for a shorter term, something like 3-4 years and able to cash in huge for his last contract.