Nathan MacKinnon is actively trying to recruit Sidney Crosby in Colorado!
Can you blame him? Get the full details below:
It was confirmed on Tuesday that Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon will join Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby at the upcoming world championship in Sweden.
The close friends are back together on the International stage. The two neighbours in Halifax, Nova Scotia last teamed up at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February when they helped lead Canada to gold.
Crosby had confirmed his presence earlier this week after last participating in one since 2015. However, MacKinnon was hoping to still be playing in the NHL playoffs but was eliminated when the Dallas Stars made an epic Game 7 comeback win against the Avalanche.
“I’m just in shock, to be honest with you,” MacKinnon said shortly after his season ended.
With both their seasons over, with the Penguins not even making it to the playoffs again this year, Crosby and MacKinnon will try to win a new gold medal on the International stage instead.
However, MacKinnon also has another mission. According to insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Avs forward is actively trying to recruit Crosby to join him in Colorado, especially as Pittsburgh continues to rebuild and has now parted ways with head coach Mike Sullivan. Friedman explained, per Tim Benz of Pittsburgh Trib Live, how MacKinnon will attempt everything to convince his best buddy to move to the Avalanche.
“MacKinnon is going to be all over Crosby about, ‘Hey, the NHL needs you in the playoffs,’” Friedman said. “Pittsburgh just made a coaching change because Kyle Dubas and Mike Sullivan disagree on the path from here. Sullivan wants to win sooner. Dubas sees more of a rebuild. MacKinnon is going to be all over Crosby saying, ‘Wanna miss more years in the playoffs? Why don’t you come to Colorado? Play with me. We’ll rule the league from the Western Conference.’”
Crosby has however extended his contract to 2027 and many fans and pundits do no expect him to leave the Penguins. His loyalty to the team has been mentioned every single time a trade rumour has come up.
Maybe MacKinnon will play the loyalty card when it comes to their friendship? Who knows what will happen…
