During the regular season, rumours circulated that the Penguins might invite Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang to attend the front office conversation to see if they are interested in participating in the upcoming major changes. Crosby may be asked if he wants to be a part of a rebuilding process or if he would rather pursue a Stanley Cup somewhere. Crosby trade ideas arose, with one sending him to his childhood team, the Montreal Canadiens, and the other sending him to the Colorado Avalanche to play alongside Nova Scotia pal Nathan MacKinnon.
Crosby is well aware that his team will undergo adjustments with the entrance of new general manager Ron Hextall. Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle, the Penguins' co-owners, had made it obvious that they wanted another title, and now that the team's streak is finished, many are wondering if that will happen with Crosby, Malkin, and Letang as the primary players.
«They've been saying that for four years, right?» Crosby said. «So I don't know if I'm going to change anybody's mind, but I know that the three of us - we want to win, and we'll do whatever it takes to try to compete to do that every year. I know that we've been together a long time, I've seen how much they care and their commitment, so I never doubt or question that.
«There's so many parts and it is a business, so that's up to other people. As far as what I can see and how I feel, there's zero doubt in my mind that the group that we have is a really good group and we had an opportunity here, and that's why it stings so much.»
We all know how dismantling this group would be a blockbuster move in Pittsburgh, but losing Crosby would be a big blow for the Penguins, who essentially won the lottery in 2005 when they came out on top of the draught order and were gifted Crosby as their best rebuilding tool. It would be strange to see him wearing the colours of a new NHL team after 16 seasons as the franchise's face.
