The possibility that Sidney Crosby leaves the Pittsburgh Penguins, considered unthinkable for a long time, has taken a new turn last week – one that concerns the Montreal Canadiens. Although there is nothing on hands, recent developments suggest that the Canadiens can be one of the few teams to make a blockbuster trade if Crosby ever is looking for a new house.
He still has to say publicly that a new start is what he wants, but his agent teases the idea, and Crosby has been a bit more vocal in the teasing that other teams have some appeal to him.
At 38, Crosby remains one of the most elite players in the NHL, but his future in Pittsburgh has been the subject of speculation, in particular because the organization navigates a rebuilding and a potential transfer of ownership. In an interesting new turn, during the recent NHL/NHLPA Media Tour in Las Vegas, Arpon Basu van van The athletic reports That Crosby trade possibilities did not deny – leave the door open for discussion without signaling an intention to leave.
Enter Montreal.
The Prospectpool of the Canadiens is one of the deepest of the competition, with top-five Picks Ivan Demidov and David Reinbacher, first Rounder Filip Mešár and several other young players who develop quickly. For Penguins General Manager Kyle Dubas this is like a Candybar where he can try to choose from some of the best young talent that the NHL has to offer. What he wants in a Crosby trade is a combination of trekkings and NHL-ready talent to accelerate the rebuilding of Pittsburgh.
The Canadiens only give up so much and a number of players will be non-Starts in commercial conversations, but the Canadians still have great options to choose from.
In the meantime, Montreal has to upgrade at central position no. 2. The acquisition of Crosby would not only be one of the better upgrades in the competition, but he would immediately come in and improve their chances to compete in the play -offs. And the Canadiens would not only be a team that can win with Crosby this season. They would be competitive for the rest of his contract and every extension that he chooses to sign after this contract has ended.
Few teams have the combination of young assets and willingness to pay too much for a Crosby’s status player, making the Canadians a unique viable partner.
The timing of a Crosby trade to the Canadiens is the key
Timing and fit are of course crucial. Montreal must balance its own needs of schedules with the potential for a blockbuster trade, which protects core perspectives such as Demidov and still compile a package that Pittsburgh meets. Crosby himself would probably want to become a member of a team where he could compete immediately, and he does not go to a team that gives away his best assets to acquire him.
For now this remains a theoretical scenario. But the coordination of Crosby’s possible departure, the emerging schedule of Montreal and the rebuilding of Pittsburgh could create one of the most intriguing trade options of the NHL while the 2025-26 season is lasting.
Strangely enough, these trade rumors pick up steam. And although nobody confirms anything, where there is smoke, there is often fire.
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