By JASON MACKEY

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

(TNS) —Much like a defender trying to swipe the puck from his grasp, Sidney Crosby wasn’t having it after the Penguins’ 6-5 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday at PPG Paints Arena.

Crosby produced a three-point night, the 185th of those in his career and fifth most all time. With a goal and two assists, the Penguins captain surpassed Bobby Hull (18th place) and Gordie Howe (1,050, 10th) on the NHL’s all-time lists.

Another night, more NHL legends eclipsed.

But Crosby, again, had zero desire to celebrate.

His team lost. Nothing else mattered.

“It’s nice to be in that company, but it’s definitely not what I’m thinking about,” Crosby told me, biting his words. “Would be nice if those were in games we won.”

The Penguins, losers of six of seven, are obviously in a tough spot as the NHL trade deadline arrives on Friday at 3 p.m., with president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas facing limited options.

As ever, they should be mindful of what they have in Crosby — the consummate leader, the squeaky-clean superstar, the dedicated Pittsburgher and the 37-year-old with still so much left in the tank.

In other words, don’t trade another player who has been so productive next to Crosby in Rickard Rakell, a winger who reached another milestone Sunday to continue his bright spot of a season.

Jake Guentzel last March and now the possibility of moving Rakell?

No thanks. I’m not taking Sid’s patience or loyalty for granted.

Rakell likely represents the Penguins’ biggest trade chip and someone who should be plenty popular after potting two more goals against the Maple Leafs to increase his team-leading total this season to 28, nine more than Crosby, The 31-year-old Swede — who’s on pace for a career-high 37 goals — became just the 12th player from his 2011 draft class to reach that mark.

Only 36 other players from Rakell’s home country have made it to 500.

“Obviously I’ve been lucky enough to play in this league for a long time,” Rakell said. “It’s a big milestone.”

The question with Rakell is a complex one.

Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor fetched more than what many probably thought: a first-round pick this year or next, two NHL roster-filling pieces in Danton Heinen and Vincent Desharnais and a legit prospect in Melvin Fernstrom.

Pettersson and O’Connor are solid players and people, but they also weren’t having the best years. Rakell is different. Someone could easily overpay.

While Dubas would be wise to listen, it’s hard to imagine a scenario unfolding where I’d endorse trading Rakell.

Here’s why: —Rakell has been really good. I know it’s obvious, but given the current state of the Penguins, it’s probably worth mentioning he had one more goal than Guentzel entering Monday’s games.

—The Penguins have one of the NHL’s best top lines. Among trios with at least 300 minutes of shared ice time, Rakell, Crosby and Bryan Rust rank third with a mark of 3.64 goals per 60 minutes, per MoneyPuck.

—Rakell is under contract with a salary-cap hit of $5 million for three more seasons after this one, through 2027-28.

Given his production and fit, hard to imagine the Penguins getting a better bargain.

—Crosby has remained committed at a crazy-low rate ($8.7 million). He left money on the table to win, to play with quality players and not send anyone who clicks with him out the door.

You can talk about how Rakell’s value will never be higher. That’s fair. But it’s also true Crosby likes what he likes. Not everyone fits that mold.

Phil Kessel didn’t.

The same for James Neal.

Patric Hornqvist occasionally did. Let’s also not forget, again, Crosby hates change so much he’s practically an honorary Steeler.

We’re really going to trade his hugely productive left wing again?

“He’s a really good player,” Crosby told me of Rakell. “He’s strong on the puck. He can score.

He sees the ice well. That second goal he scored [Sunday] was the perfect example. Happy for him that it’s going in.”

It has been going in — and often impressively so, like the pair of nifty shots he flipped past Toronto goaltender Joseph Woll on Sunday, the latter 10 seconds into the third period to answer a lousy finish to the second for the Penguins.

On the second, the goal referenced, Rakell proved his value in one short clip by fending off Auston Matthews, driving the net and finishing with a gorgeous backhander.

Amid a dreary season, Rakell has been a rare dose of sunshine. His versatility, creativity and willingness to shoot have all been impressive, the results produced independent of teamwide struggles. The fit with Sid has been obvious.

That’s why I believe — barring something crazy — the Penguins would be wise to sit this one out.

To remember the pathway back to contention doesn’t have to be endless if Dubas can pull off a few creative moves, take advantage of the cap going up and also lean into more of a youth movement.

Again, I don’t think I’m alone.