Bill Guerin has never been shy about making bold moves since becoming general manager of the Minnesota Wild in 2019. From the buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to the mega extension of Kirill Kaprizov, and most recently of course the blockbuster trade to acquire Quinn Hughes.
The superstar defender said it best: Kudos to Guerin, quote-unquote, “fire” to seal the deal. In a league where excuses are often made to justify a lack of activity, it’s refreshing to see the Wild’s GM remaining aggressive and swinging for the fences.
Given that track record, there’s no reason to expect Guerin to quit Hughes, which has led TSN insider Chris Johnston to wonder if his next target could be a former teammate in Sidney Crosby.
said Johnston:
“I don’t know which centers will actually be available, so it’s hard to get started. But if that guy in Pittsburgh ever becomes available, I’ll remind you that he was a friend of Bill Guerin’s and a Stanley Cup-winning teammate. It’s way too premature, that’s not a rumor, that’s kind of one and one, one plus one adds two together.”
The 38-year-old remains extremely productive, scoring 34 points (19 goals, 15 assists) in 31 games this season. He is in the first year of the two-year, $17.4 million extension he signed with the Penguins just before the 2024-25 season.
Will Sidney Crosby ever leave Pittsburgh?
Minnesota needs help in the middle of the ice, and Crosby would be a great fit to fill that need. But as will always be the case, the Penguins captain’s loyalty to the only franchise he’s ever known poses a major obstacle.
Speculation about Sidney Crosby considering a future away from Pittsburgh reached a fever pitch this summer, but he quickly put an end to it and reiterated his desire to stay, while making it clear he was growing tired of having to answer the question.
The Penguins’ hot start to the 2025-2026 season quieted the noise, but after losing five straight games — with a huge lead in the third period — that chatter could quickly resurface if things continue to spiral.
It still feels unlikely that we’ll reach a point this season where Crosby is seriously considering leaving. Nevertheless, the idea that he would team up with Hughes, Kaprizov and old friend Guerin in State Hockey is undeniably fascinating.
Next: Could the former 70-point defenseman be a Maple Leafs trade target?
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