It’s happening again on the occasion of the NHL Draft.

The hockey media’s fringe elements whisper, “There’s a very good chance that (Sidney) Crosby will play somewhere else.” (The author of that is fairly oozing CTE from having his head whacked hundreds of times.)

Social media piles on, trying to talk wishful thinking into existence.

But Penguins director of hockey ops/GM Kyle Dubas shot it down.

Pat Brisson is Crosby’s agent. He shot it down.

Crosby’s friend Nathan MacKinnon shot it down: “Fake news.” (The narrative usually holds that Crosby would join MacKinnon in Colorado.)

There’s nothing to it.

It was a total fabrication. Again.

Things can change. But they haven’t.

It’s jealousy of the Penguins on behalf of lesser brands.

Ray Bourque pimped himself to Colorado to win a Stanley Cup he didn’t deserve.

Wayne Gretzky became a journeyman.

Gordie Howe was a Houston Aero, then a Hartford Whaler.

Guy Lafleur played for Montreal’s biggest rival, the Quebec Nordiques.

Mitch Marner is leaving Toronto, fairly sprinting away from 58 Cup-less seasons.

In Pittsburgh, it’s different.

Crosby is a Penguin.

Mario Lemieux is a Penguin.

Evgeni Malkin is a Penguin.

Jaromir Jagr played for nine NHL teams. In every big family, one kid always turns out a bit different. (But last year, Jagr came home.)

The falsified Crosby trade rumors are reaction to the Penguins becoming a better brand than all but a few NHL franchises, including the (gag) legendary Original Six.

The Penguins keep their heroes.

Most teams can’t.

Again, things can change. If they do, I wouldn’t begrudge Crosby leaving.

But he’s got three Cups. What does he need to leave for?

Crosby likely sees being a career Penguin as more vital to his legacy than a stolen Cup somewhere else.

Three Cups and six international gold medals later, Crosby doesn’t need to prove he’s a winner.

Connor McDavid does. Zero Cups.

Maybe McDavid is the one that needs to get traded.

But not to Toronto: The Maple Leafs haven’t won since 1967.

Not to the New York Rangers: One Cup since World War II.

Not to Philadelphia: 50 years, no Cups. (Hey, Sid … want to buy a T-shirt?)

Wishing that Crosby plays elsewhere won’t make it happen.

Just like saying that perennial losers are still relevant doesn’t make it so.

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