Toronto sports host Sid Seixeiro has floated a mock trade involving the Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins veteran Sidney Crosby.
Speaking on his show, Seixeiro asked the Habs fans if they would deal prospect Michael Hage and a first-round pick in exchange for Crosby and then went all-in on the idea.
“Montreal Canadiens fans right now, Michael Hage and a 1st-round pick for Sidney Crosby. Do you do it? Anyone in Pittsburgh who doesn’t like this, you go to hell,” he said. ‘Kent Hughes’, you’ve danced with Matthew Knies, you’ve danced with Marchenko, and you’ve danced with who knows? Maybe you called Detroit on Dylan Larkin.”
Sid added:
“I don’t know. You gotta make one call, man. Go get Crosby. You’ve got the prospects. You’ve got the picks. You’ve got a team ready to make a move. What Montreal Canadiens fan says no to that? Nobody. Come on… It’s a party if they get Sidney Crosby.”
While Sidney Crosby has repeatedly expressed his desire to stay in Pittsburgh and win another Stanley Cup with the only franchise he has ever known, the ongoing Penguins rebuild has kept trade speculation alive.
The 39-year-old is entering the final year of his two-year, $17.4 million contract, and any move would require both his approval and a willingness from the Penguins to part with their longtime captain.
NHL insider shares his thoughts on Sidney Crosby’s stance on a new contract
While Crosby has said he does not plan to hang up his skates after his current contract expires, The Athletic’s Josh Yohe suggested the Penguins captain’s previous extension could offer a useful timeline.
Yohe noted that the smart money is on Crosby signing a new deal sometime between now and mid-September:
“The smart money would be on Crosby signing a new deal sometime between now and the middle of September. That’s how it went before; that’s the timeline Crosby is comfortable with, and a new contract seems inevitable.”
During an interview with Josh Yohe back in May, Sidney Crosby said he has no plans of retiring and wants to play as long as he can:
“Not at all,” Crosby said. “It’s pretty obvious why I would just go year to year with the contracts. At the end of the day, I’m just going to do what’s best for the team. It’s got nothing to do with how long I want to play. It’s not like that at all.”
Crosby, who has been with the Penguins since they drafted him first overall in the 2005 NHL draft, will be entering his 22nd season with the franchise.
Also Read: Penguins insider outlines Sidney Crosby’s contract stance as timeline emerges
Edited by Abhishek Dilta