NHL: Pens plan to breakup top line when Crosby returns?

KUNITZ FULLY EXPECTED TO PLAY WITH CROSBY

The Pittsburgh Penguins have the best line in hockey but the line doesn’t figure to stay together when Sidney Crosby returns to action, which team sources are confident will happen by March.

Can anyone imagine Sidney Crosby being stuck playing with the likes of Steve Sullivan, Pascal Dupuis or Dustin Jeffrey? From those we’ve spoken with, no one close to the organization can.

Team sources indicate that the team intends to re-unite Chris Kunitz with Sidney Crosby and internal discussions right now have the team sticking with the Malkin-Neal combo as the team is considering potential forward moves at the deadline and operating under the assumption that Crosby will return for the stretch run, unlike last year when they weren’t operating with that mindset.