Every club needs a rebuild sooner or later. Times pass, everything changes, the stars age. Little by little it is necessary to develop in a new direction, with new people. With young players.
This situation also affected Pittsburgh. It’s time to part with our legends.
A look at another superstar’s troubled situation:
If Ovechkin wants to beat Gretzky’s record, he will have to leave Washington
Recently, famed insider Elliott Friedman reported that the Penguins are offering 36-year-old Sidney Crosby a new contract. Presumably for two or three years for a total of $10.5 million, but at the end of next season his 12-year contract for $104.4 million expires, with a salary cap hit of $8.7 million. .
Should Crosby stay in Pittsburgh? Is it time for him to change clubs? Should he sign a new contract with the Penguins? Let’s figure it out.
“The best course of action is to get Crosby away from rotten Pittsburgh.”
Crosby is a Pittsburgh legend who has been with the team since 2005. One of the greatest hockey players in the history of not only the club, but the entire sport. He is possibly the best player in the franchise along with Mario Lemieux.
So why did you think it was time for Sid to change clubs?
Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby
Photo: imago/TASS
On the eve of the NHL’s 2024 deadline, The Hockey News reporter Stan Fischler, a hockey journalism legend who has been writing articles since 1955 (!), suggested the New York Rangers trade Crosby.
“In my opinion, the best step Chris Drury (Rangers general manager – Championship Note) could take is to get Crosby away from the rotten Penguins. Now or in the future off season.
With the Pittsburgh franchise in decline, the Penguins wouldn’t make the playoffs for another two years. After this, Crosby will reach retirement age. If the Blue Shirts could get Wayne Gretzky, then it’s not impossible for Crosby to make it to Seventh Avenue! — Fischler wrote.
At the same time, the journalist on his social networks briefly summarized his article “I saw how Gretzky was traded.”
Here’s what got me thinking: maybe there really is some point to this?
Why should Crosby be traded?
This solution will probably be the best for all parties.
Pittsburgh is unlikely to make the playoffs this season; the Penguins lost too much during the regular season. For the first time in Crosby’s career, his team failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup twice in a row. This alone suggests the Penguins need a rebuild, and soon.
In reality, things are very bad for Pittsburgh. In addition to the disastrous results, the team is now filled with aging stars who are not performing as well as their contracts imply. $8.7 million for 36-year-old Crosby (until the end of the 2024/2025 season), $6.1 million for 37-year-old Evgeni Malkin (until the end of the 2025/2026 season), 10 million dollars for the 33-year-old former Erik Karlsson (until the end of the 2026/2027 season), $6.1 million for the 36-year-old Kris Letang (until the end of the 2027/2028 season).
The contracts of Brian Rust and Rickard Rakell will also remain dead weight. The former will be 36 years old at the end of the deal with a cap hit of $5.125 million, the latter will be 35 years old (a cap hit will reach $5 million).
At the same time, the club has almost no worthy young people or quality long-term players. There is also no chance of getting hockey players like that. Only because of the strong contracts of the “old people”.
Sidney Crosby with his Pittsburgh teammates
Photo: Gene J. Puskar/AP/TASS
A logical question: what does Crosby have to do with this? He also can renew the contract on terms more favorable to Pittsburgh.
On the one hand, yes. And this will even help. But on the other hand… can you imagine that with Crosby alive, the Penguins would trade Malkin or Letang? Will they do to them what Washington did to Evgeny Kuznetsov?
It is difficult to imagine such a development of events. Yes, as they say, Crosby does not influence the management of the Club in terms of the selection of players. But it is obvious that such exchanges from Pittsburgh will clearly not please the captain: we can remember how Sid reacted to difficult negotiations on a new contract for Malkin.
In other words, Crosby could rest assured: he would have done a lot of useful things for the club. But you will have to leave his friends or take risks, not knowing for sure what the separation of other legends of the franchise will lead to.
“Crosby doesn’t owe you guys anything.”
How realistic is the exchange? More than. Why not?
Naturally, the main reason that can make the exchange difficult and easier is Crosby’s own personal desire. Without him, Pittsburgh wouldn’t dare make such a move.
At the same time, Sid himself could do it if he is sure that it will be better for the club.
I don’t want to guess where exactly the legendary Canadian will go in this case. There are too many nuances for a separate material. Certainly not “Washington,” not the conditional “Toronto,” which simply won’t live up to his cap hit. But, for example, the same Rangers, with the right moves, will be able to get Crosby. Like many other teams.
And most importantly, there will be nothing embarrassing in this. Nothing disrespectful.
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“He comforted the sick and the unfortunate.” How Crosby became the best player in the world and changed hockey
The same topic was discussed in early March by famous journalists Andy Strickland and Cam Jenssen on The Cam & Strick Podcast.
Strickland: I want Crosby to make the playoffs when he’s more than just a points-per-game average and is still among the best players in the league.
Jensen: I get you, Pittsburgh kids. But as a hockey fan, I will selfishly say that I want to see the main man in the playoffs. 100%. So we hope something happens and he goes to a Stanley Cup contender. How this will happen, man, I have no idea.
Strickland: This will not happen this season. The only way he will be traded is if he tells Kyle Dubas (Pittsburgh general manager-note on championship) that he wants to be traded.
Jensen: Yes. And I want you to do it.
Strickland: I wish I said, “Hey, listen, Gino, Letang.” Even Marc-André [Флёри] You might say, “Hey Sid, it’s okay. I left the club.” He Talks to Patrick Kane, Wayne Gretzky, ask Mark Messier questions. He Talks to Jaromir Jagr.
Sidney Crosby and Marc-André Fleury
Photo: Ralph Freso/AP/TASS
Jensen: And not to mention, he hasn’t done enough for this city. He doesn’t owe you anything. I’m sorry, I love you all, but he doesn’t owe you anything. So whatever he chooses, you have to accept it.
Strickland: He has already given you so much.
The journalists discussed another important topic. While Crosby is still crawling, while Crosby is still calm, he should find a new club. A hockey player this good doesn’t deserve to waste his final years of his prime on a team that has absolutely nothing in store for him.
And there’s nothing wrong with that. Everyone should independently manage their career and life in the way they believe is right. Especially considering how many happy and great moments Sid brought to both Pittsburgh and all of Canada.
***
Even Jagr changed. Even Gretzky changed. Lemieux interrupted his career and left hockey due to health problems.
Yes, Crosby is unlikely to leave Pittsburgh. This team is too dear to him. It is unlikely that Pittsburgh will give up Sid. He is loved too much, both in the club and in the city. But you have to understand that now Crosby, like his friends from Letang and Malkin, is “strangling” the team. It cannot be developed further.
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Yes, the story of the union between Crosby and Pittsburgh will be very beautiful. But, sooner or later, absolutely everything reaches a state where changes are required. Sometimes you even have to leave your place of origin if you can no longer give them anything and they can’t give you anything either. Now Crosby, dragging the team and giving himself completely to it, is killing it himself. He does not allow you to develop and move forward. And he just takes on additional responsibility for the franchise. This is a road to nowhere. In such situations, Sid, who has done a lot for the region, can only leave Pittsburgh.
Yes, if Crosby agrees to take a significant pay cut in his new contract, that might help a little. Both him and the Penguins. Still, being a leader and understanding the situation of the club, you must show your loyalty, unexpectedly, but not only on the ice. Especially considering that eventually all hockey players give up.
How far is Crosby willing to go to help Pittsburgh? Will he decide to part ways with his legendary friends for the good of the club?
As of now, the answers to these questions are unknown. But someday they will have to be answered. Next season the Penguins will be on the brink of the abyss. A similar situation can be observed in the field of its main rivals, Washington. However, everything there can be justified by at least “chasing a record.”
Why should Pittsburgh put up with it? What awaits the team?
Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin
Photo: Gene J. Puskar/AP/TASS
If nothing changes, the Penguins will have no chance of making the playoffs until their leaders’ heavy contracts end. The team’s game is boring. The existence of penguins will not have any special meaning in the coming years.
And it’s clearly not Sid’s fault. He does everything he can to help the team. He is their legitimate and only leader. He almost 20 years ago, now. But the leaders themselves will not dare to make such changes. Fans will just eat up the Penguins front office for this. Pittsburgh management has already made many mistakes and Sid’s possible departure will be his fault. They took it to this point and transferred responsibility to the Canadian. And it is worth talking about his mistakes separately.
We saw the Gretzky trade. We saw the Jagr trade. Will we see a Crosby trade?
Or better…
Will it be decided?
