Ryan Wilson: Sidney Crosby still weighing his options Sidney Crosby still weighing his options

As the Penguins are a sinking ship, I have it on good authority that he wants to sign in Vancouver. They’re one of the best teams in the league and he loves the coaching staff…just sayin.

As the Penguins are a sinking ship, I have it on good authority that he wants to sign in Vancouver. They’re one of the best teams in the league and he loves the coaching staff…just sayin.
- Pacificgem

Lol, if he goes anywhere, it sure wont be to Canada.

It will be to Colorado.

If Crosby has doubts about resigning, he should be traded now. Pittsburgh could facilitate by holding some of his cap if he wants to go to a cap hurting team like Colorado.

Him being traded at the deadline will likely mean nothing for us. The return will be a lot smaller and we could already be primed for another middle of the road season. If he is traded before the season or early into it, that could enable us to get a much better draft pick.

If Crosby has doubts about resigning, he should be traded now. Pittsburgh could facilitate by holding some of his cap if he wants to go to a cap hurting team like Colorado.

Him being traded at the deadline will likely mean nothing for us. The return will be a lot smaller and we could already be primed for another middle of the road season. If he is traded before the season or early into it, that could enable us to get a much better draft pick.
- SuperHenderson13

Exactly. These discussions should have happened already. Both sides should know precisely where each other stand. That's why I'm assuming the contract is a formality. If it's not, they need to trade him before the season starts.

If Crosby has doubts about resigning, he should be traded now. Pittsburgh could facilitate by holding some of his cap if he wants to go to a cap hurting team like Colorado.

Him being traded at the deadline will likely mean nothing for us. The return will be a lot smaller and we could already be primed for another middle of the road season. If he is traded before the season or early into it, that could enable us to get a much better draft pick.
- SuperHenderson13

If everyone has predetermined his landing spot to be Col, I'm not sure how you could get a much better draft pick out of the deal. More picks maybe, but you are not getting a top 15 pick out of Col.

If everyone has predetermined his landing spot to be Col, I'm not sure how you could get a much better draft pick out of the deal. More picks maybe, but you are not getting a top 15 pick out of Col.
- Beergu

Crosby isnt going to a team that is getting a top 15 pick. I would much rather prioritize getting top prospects over draft picks. I dont see Crosby wanting to leave, but if he chooses to, an organization he knows well would be what I think he'd look for. His relationship with MacKinnon makes all the difference IMO.

What other top tier teams could he go to?

-I dont think he'd want to go to a Canadian team, so eliminate Toronto, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Vancouver
-I dont think he'd want to go to a team like the Panthers, plus they have nothing left to give to Pittsburgh
-I dont think he'd want to go to a conference/division rival like Boston or New York Rangers
-Could Tampa afford him? He has a connection with Jake there at least


The only other team I could see is Dallas, and I actually think that'd be pretty cool.

Exactly. These discussions should have happened already. Both sides should know precisely where each other stand. That's why I'm assuming the contract is a formality. If it's not, they need to trade him before the season starts.
- madmike71

I agree, and that's why I dont believe much of this hype that he could leave. I think he's a guy who knows what he wants. I dont think he'd string the Penguins along if he wasnt committed and I dont see him as a guy who'd be okay walking away for nothing.

I agree, and that's why I dont believe much of this hype that he could leave. I think he's a guy who knows what he wants. I dont think he'd string the Penguins along if he wasnt committed and I dont see him as a guy who'd be okay walking away for nothing.
- SuperHenderson13

He would have inked a contract by now if it was a “done deal”. I think he wants to see where the team is actually heading. Dubas and Sullivan have quite a half assed poop show going on right now.

Quote from Sid today on his contract:

“I’m pretty optimistic it’s gonna get done,” Crosby said. “I don’t know what day, but it’s been really positive. Hasn’t been a difficult process at all.”

Quote from Sid today on his contract:

“I’m pretty optimistic it’s gonna get done,” Crosby said. “I don’t know what day, but it’s been really positive. Hasn’t been a difficult process at all.”
- SuperHenderson13

Hahaha this made me chuckle. He wasn't/isn't gonna let this be up in the air all season. They'd all be being asked about it by every member of the media everywhere they went this season.

Pens are in a no lose situation here....If he stays then Pen fans get to see him end his career end there...if he leaves Pens get some good prospects and expedite a rebuild...the heart would want him to stay but the brain says get the prospects as Pens are going nowhere the next few years even with Crosby

Pens are in a no lose situation here....If he stays then Pen fans get to see him end his career end there...if he leaves Pens get some good prospects and expedite a rebuild...the heart would want him to stay but the brain says get the prospects as Pens are going nowhere the next few years even with Crosby
- hfc355

You got the heart part right but the brain, or at least some of our brains, can see some advantages in him sticking around, as well...even if they are going "nowhere" with him....

He would have inked a contract by now if it was a “done deal”. I think he wants to see where the team is actually heading. Dubas and Sullivan have quite a half assed poop show going on right now.
- Grinder47

Nah.

"Sidney Crosby still weighing his options"

You missed the punctuation. Here, I fixed it.

Sidney Crosby still weighing his options?

Most contenders that would love to acquire SC even at 50% cap hit have to wonder what it’ll cost in assets and if they will have cap space to resign him. Otherwise he becomes a pure rental. On the Pens side they would love to deal him at the TDL for assets and then Re acquire him on Jul 1 for free. Makes for a tricky deal to pull off with a a legacy player.
He most likely stays with Pens but just like Stamkos will wait until Jul 1 to make a decision based on what he sees is the path the team is on.

This feels like Canadian media wanting something to talk about and hoping that he'd actually go to a Canadian team. I just don't see it.

Any team that's a serious contender is going to have to shed people/salary to get him unless he's a rental at the end of the season and I doubt he'd do that.

He's got 3 Cups. He'll captain the 2026 olympic team to Gold so he has that. I think he'll want to stay in Pitt.

Let’s do it. Unite the hometown besties.

To COL: 87

To PIT: F Nichushkin (for money balance)
C Callum Ritchie
F Oskar Ollauson
2027 1st

Equates to the uncertainty in Nichushkin + 3 1st’s for Sid. Not bad value there.

Let’s do it. Unite the hometown besties.

To COL: 87

To PIT: F Nichushkin (for money balance)
C Callum Ritchie
F Oskar Ollauson
2027 1st

Equates to the uncertainty in Nichushkin + 3 1st’s for Sid. Not bad value there.
- 13of39

Sounds like a Colorado fantasy. That's basically a player dump and three 2nd rounders (very late pick 1st's)

Sounds like a Colorado fantasy. That's basically a player dump and three 2nd rounders (very late pick 1st's)
- greenyone

Also feel like it’s realistic though, in the event Crosby is actually traded, which is the real fantasy. We’ll have very little leverage. We’d essentially let Sid pick where to go to begin with, and even if we had full control, the number of contenders that would be able to make the cap work would not be that big. The idea that trading Crosby would super charger a rebuild is false. It would only give it a jolt. The team that got Crosby would likely only have to give up a “let the Penguins walk away with some dignity” package.

Also feel like it’s realistic though, in the event Crosby is actually traded, which is the real fantasy. We’ll have very little leverage. We’d essentially let Sid pick where to go to begin with, and even if we had full control, the number of contenders that would be able to make the cap work would not be that big. The idea that trading Crosby would super charger a rebuild is false. It would only give it a jolt. The team that got Crosby would likely only have to give up a “let the Penguins walk away with some dignity” package.
- Victoro311

You nailed it. And they'd get even less for their other vets. They would suck more and pick sooner. But they wouldn't get this bonanza to start a rebuild with.

You nailed it. And they'd get even less for their other vets. They would suck more and pick sooner. But they wouldn't get this bonanza to start a rebuild with.
- Tojo.

This is most likely an ad-nauseum debate. I'm still putting my money on him signing in Pittsburgh...forcing the bloggers to find another late summer subject to entice us into endlessly commenting on.

Also feel like it’s realistic though, in the event Crosby is actually traded, which is the real fantasy. We’ll have very little leverage. We’d essentially let Sid pick where to go to begin with, and even if we had full control, the number of contenders that would be able to make the cap work would not be that big. The idea that trading Crosby would super charger a rebuild is false. It would only give it a jolt. The team that got Crosby would likely only have to give up a “let the Penguins walk away with some dignity” package.
- Victoro311

I mostly agree but every now and then you get a trade where there is no perceived leverage but someone like Jordan Staal, who everyone and their mother knew wasn't going to re-up with the Pens and wanted to play with his bro in Carolina, hauled in a 1st round pick, a middle 6 center (I know he didnt work out like that with Pens but at time of trade he was young with only 3 full seasons one of which with 17 goals and another with 21) and Brian Dumoulin (who was a 51st overall pick with some promise and potential, ended up being a top pairing staple).

EDIT: I guess a big factor in that trade could have been the fact that it was known Staal would sign long term there. If Sid were traded it would be a very good chance of being a pure rental....

EDIT 2: but then again just the fact that it was known he would sign with the Canes, and could have for free on July 1st, does swing it back to what a haul for someone you have no leverage with hahah

This is most likely an ad-nauseum debate. I'm still putting my money on him signing in Pittsburgh...forcing the bloggers to find another late summer subject to entice us into endlessly commenting on.
- greenyone

Sid has all but said its a guarantee haha...I mean, it could go south I guess. However, just like I didn't think Sid was the type to leave this up in the air going into the season I also dont think he'd just spit sh!t out to help with negotiations or his stance in them.