If that was the case, it would mean the end of Crosby in Pittsburgh, as he'd likely be traded this summer, but now, General Manager Kyle Dubas has addressed the situation, and 87's future as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Dubas would go on to say that he would lean on Crosby for his opinion on how to proceed going forward, as he means so much to the city, the team and the fans in Pittsburgh.
This doesn't sound like a team that's ready to trade their captain to move towards a rebuild, and with Crosby's contract coming up in the summer of 2025 at the age of 37, they'll have some big decisions to make.
Ultimately though, it appears that Dubas is intent on putting together a team that can go on one last run under Crosby, and if he can play out his career as a Penguin, he will likely be remembered as the greatest player in franchise history.