Elliotte Friedman Gets Painfully Honest About Possible Player-Coach Role for Sidney Crosby
Elliotte Friedman Gets Painfully Honest About Possible Player-Coach Role for Sidney Crosby originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Pittsburgh Penguins officially named Dan Muse as their next head coach this week, replacing Mike Sullivan after three straight seasons without a playoff berth.
Advertisement
Muse, 42, enters the role with experience as an assistant coach with the Nashville Predators and most recently with the New York Rangers, where he specialized in managing penalty killing and special teams.
Muse will now take over a team still anchored by a Penguins core of veterans featuring Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang, all of them under contract for at least one more season.
While the appointment signals a new direction for the franchise, Sportsnet's Kyle Bukauskas brought an interesting idea to the table on Thursday.
The analyst asked fellow NHL insider Elliotte Friedman on Thursday's episode of the "32 Thoughts" podcast whether Crosby might take on more than just an on-ice role given his experience and legendary stature within the franchise.
Advertisement
Bukauskas raised the idea of Crosby acting in an unofficial player-coach role next season, something Friedman doesn't see happening.
"The only reason I'm going to say no, Kyle, is that I think if you went to Sidney Crosby and said, 'I see you more as a player-coach than anything else right now,'" Friedman said. "You might get stuffed into a trash can."
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby (87) tracks the puck against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre.Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Despite his age and 20 seasons of NHL experience, Friedman thinks Crosby remains focused on competing and is only interested in playing the game, not coaching it.
"I can't think of Crosby as a player-coach," Friedman said. "I still think of him as an incredibly driven guy who wants to win more."
Advertisement
Friedman added that the hiring of Muse will likely draw more attention to Crosby's opinion and influence within the team's evolving structure, given that this is the first head coaching job taken by Muse throughout his professional career.
Related: NHL Trade Idea Sends Penguins' Erik Karlsson to Maple Leafs in One-for-One Deal
Related: Sidney Crosby Clarifies Role in Penguins' Pursuit of Next Coach
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
NHL Free Agency: Top Six Pending UFA Centers
The NHL's free-agency period is almost here, and it's time to look at the key pivots who could be UFAs on July 1. has already looked at the top eight UFA defensemen and the top seven wingers. As for the centers, this is a rather thin class, but there's no doubt which center will be paid the most as a UFA this summer. 1. Sam Bennett, Florida Panthers Bennett was arguably the biggest impact player of the 2025 playoffs, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP. Advertisement Bennett posted an amazing 15 goals and 22 points in 23 playoff games. No other player had more than 11 goals, making Bennett's scoring prowess all the more remarkable. The 29-year-old will get a massive raise on the $4.425 million he earned for the past four years. The Panthers aren't devoid of salary cap space, with $19 million in room. However, they might prioritize re-signing UFA winger Brad Marchand and defenseman Aaron Ekblad, cutting ties with Bennett and sending him to the open market looking for a bigger payday than Florida can afford. There will be a slew of teams – including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings and many more – who will happily bring Bennett on board with a salary north of $8 million. It's all up to Bennett to choose where he plays next, but he can rest assured he'll be one of the most targeted assets in free agency. Gary Bettman presents Sam Bennett with the Conn Smythe Trophy. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images) 2. John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leafs At 34 years old, Tavares is entering the final stage of his tremendous NHL career. But he hasn't let up in terms of offensive production, putting up 38 goals – his best total since 2018-19 – and 74 points in 75 games. There are few players more consistent as a point-per-game producer than Tavares, but he'll be taking a huge pay cut as he does his best to remain with his hometown Maple Leafs. Advertisement Thus, Tavares will be earning far less than the $11 million he earned for the past seven years. Rumored projections have him in the $4-million to $5-million range over a four- or five-year contract term. That should make Leafs fans very happy. Tavares can be part of the solution in Toronto by accepting a massive pay cut and allow the Buds to put together a deeper, stronger roster. 3. Mikael Granlund, Dallas Stars Very quietly, Granlund put together an excellent season, generating 44 assists and 66 points in 83 games split between the Stars and San Jose Sharks. In the playoffs, Granlund amassed another five goals and 10 points in 18 games with Dallas. He was a terrific acquisition, and he guaranteed himself a strong market for his services this summer. Granlund earned $5 million annually for the past six years, but at 33 years old, his next contract will likely be for three or four years. He'll probably want to sign on a bona fide Cup contender, but a developing team might offer him more money to come in and provide leadership and offensive consistency to their lineup. Regardless, once Bennett and Tavares come off the board, Granlund will quickly garner major attention and sign very soon on July 1. 4. Pius Suter, Vancouver Canucks For the first four years of his NHL career, Suter posted either 14 or 15 goals. But in 2024-25, he had a career-high 25 goals and 46 points in 81 games. The 29-year-old's agent had to be ecstatic with the timeliness of Suter's offensive outburst, because he's going to be the focus of teams that lose out on Bennett, Tavares and Granlund. Advertisement Suter was a serious bargain this year in particular, earning just $1.6 million. He'll easily double that amount this summer, as many teams – including the Canucks, which have the cap space to bring him back to Vancouver – will be jockeying for Suter's attention. We'll see who winds up with him, but there's no question he'll be in high demand. NHL Free Agency: Top Seven Pending UFA Wingers NHL Free Agency: Top Seven Pending UFA Wingers The NHL's free-agency period is fast approaching, so it's time to break down the key free agents who will soon be on the open market. 5. Christian Dvorak, Montreal Canadiens Dvorak has had trouble staying healthy, as he appeared in 82 games this past season for the first time in his nine-year NHL career. But as a third-line center option, he's going to be intriguing. Advertisement Dvorak posted 12 goals and 33 points last season – numbers that don't knock your socks off but aren't anything to sneer at, either. He won't match or better his 2024-25 salary of $4.45 million, but on a playoff-bound team, he could be a nifty little acquisition who is hungry and determined to be part of a winning organization. 6. Adam Gaudette, Ottawa Senators In parts of seven NHL seasons, the 28-year-old Gaudette has had to scratch and claw for opportunities in hockey's best league. Before this past season, his career high in games played was 59, back in 2019-20. But in '24-25, the Senators took a chance on him for just $775,000, and in return, Gaudette put up 19 goals and 26 points. So, once the other players on this list have signed a new contract, Gaudette is bound to get multiple offers for his services. The Sens aren't swimming in cap space, so Gaudette could be moving on to a different team next year. But as a third- or fourth-line option, he could fit in very well with a team intent on being a playoff contender. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
PGA Tour Sends Strong Scottie Scheffler Message on Saturday
PGA Tour Sends Strong Scottie Scheffler Message on Saturday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The PGA Tour celebrated Scottie Scheffler in style on Saturday, honoring the world No. 1 golfer on his birthday with an Instagram post from @pgatour showcasing his top 10 career shots. Advertisement The post, shared earlier today, serves as a tribute to his remarkable journey, timed perfectly as fans and the Tour alike mark his special day. This gesture underscores Scheffler's status as a golfing icon and the Tour's commitment to celebrating its brightest stars. The post highlights iconic moments, including his hole-in-one at the 2023 Charles Schwab Challenge and his remarkable eagle hole-out at the 2024 Players Championship. These shots reflect the precision and power that have defined his rise, with three wins in his last five starts this season, including a victory at the 2025 PGA Championship. Scottie Scheffler plays his shot from the tenth tee during the first round.© Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The birthday tribute aligns with Scheffler being in contention at the Travelers Championship this weekend, tying for the 36-hole lead with a score of nine under par. Advertisement This celebration sends a clear message: Scheffler, at 29, is the Tour's present and future and will continue to dominate a majority of the tournaments he plays in. With competitors like Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Thomas challenging his lead, his career highlights remind fans of his consistency and clutch performances. The post has sparked excitement, reinforcing the Tour's intent to honor excellence while hyping its toughest course setups and merit-based finales. For golf enthusiasts, it's a fitting birthday salute to a player redefining the sport. Related: PGA Tour Teases Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas Pairing at Travelers Championship This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Maple Leafs rumors: Mitch Marner not expected to return to Toronto in free agency
The post Maple Leafs rumors: Mitch Marner not expected to return to Toronto in free agency appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Toronto Maple Leafs have several key players hitting NHL free agency, and arguably the biggest of them all is Mitch Marner. By the sounds of it, he won't be returning. Advertisement NHL insider Andy Strickland reported Friday that Marner is expected to be playing for a new team in 2025-26: 'Can confirm Mitch Marner will not be returning to Toronto. Will be playing for a new team come next season.' Strickland wrote on X. If this is indeed true, it's not a huge surprise. The Maple Leafs reportedly attempted to trade for Mikko Rantanen at the deadline, offering Marner to the Carolina Hurricanes, but he ultimately remained with the team. Marner has stayed rather quiet on his future, and after Toronto's brutal exit at the hands of the Florida Panthers, he refused to speak on what the next move will be: 'I've always loved my time here. I've loved being here,' Marner said on the team's locker clean-out day. 'Like I said to you guys the other night, I have been so grateful and, you know, haven't processed anything yet. It's still so fresh and losing sucks.' Advertisement 'In the next couple of weeks, I'll sit down with my wife and we'll start talking,' Marner continued. 'Trying to figure out what's next.' Marner decided not to negotiate a new deal with the Maple Leafs during the regular season and instead wanted to wait until free agency. The reality is that many teams will be vying for his signature. The veteran led Toronto in points in 2024-25, scoring 27 goals and tallying 75 assists. While he is a crucial piece for the Maple Leafs, this current core hasn't been able to get the franchise over the hump and make a Stanley Cup. Perhaps they do need a new recipe for success, and that likely won't include Marner. Wherever he ends up, the superstar will secure a major payday. Related: Maple Leafs rumors: Insider calls out John Tavares 'stretch' in contract talks Related: NHL rumors: Pierre LeBrun makes Maple Leafs prediction for Brad Marchand
