The Pittsburgh Penguins face a complex situation this season. On the one hand, they have a number of valuable assets which have drawn interest around the league. On the other hand, they are trying to compete during the final year of Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby playing together.
But thinking beyond this season, the Penguins could be in a tight spot. They could face the need to trade their longtime captain and franchise legend. It may not be because they necessarily want to do that. But team GM Kyle Dubas may seize an opportunity to make the team better.
Plus, Dubas may get pressure from Crosby’s agent to pull the trigger on a deal. While the most-talked-about destination is Montreal, Crosby will likely want to play for a contender. That contender wouldn’t just be a playoff team. It would be a team with a realistic chance at winning the Stanley Cup.
That club could be the Florida Panthers. Yes, other contenders stand out like the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars. The Avalanche, in particular, have a strong connection to Crosby. The Stars look as good as any team to win the Cup.
There is also the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers could certainly use the Penguins’ icon in their lineup. Perhaps that trade could be enough to entice Connor McDavid to re-sign in Edmonton once and for all.
But all of the aforementioned teams are not precisely locks to win the Cup. The team closest to winning another championship is Florida. The Panthers have won two in a row and look on pace to win a third. Adding the Penguins’ legend would make them a virtually unstoppable machine.
Crosby Could Force Penguins to Make Deal with Florida
It’s worth pointing out that Crosby has full no-trade protection. That situation signifies that a deal cannot happen without Crosby’s consent. So, even if the Panthers don’t have the assets the Penguins would like to get in return, Pittsburgh doesn’t have much of a choice. They either take the Panthers’ best offer or deal with pressure from Crosby’s agent, Pat Brisson.
Brisson has already been public about the possibility of a trade happening. So, who’s to say that Brisson won’t go to the Penguins and twist their arm to work a deal with the Panthers?
Last season, the Panthers managed to pry former Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand with what seemed like a very lowball deal. So, who’s to say that the Penguins won’t go down the same path?
Panthers Would not Pass up Chance to Land Crosby
It’s hard to envisage the Panthers passing on the chance to add Sidney Crosby. If there was an opportunity to make that happen, the Panthers would not hesitate to jump at the chance.
As for where Crosby could fit into the Panthers’ lineup, that’s a discussion for another day. It would be hard for the Penguins captain to push Aleksander Barkov aside. But why not set up a Barkov-Crosby duo? Throw Sam Reinhart into the mix, and the Panthers could easily have the best line in the NHL.
It’s an intriguing thought that could send shockwaves throughout the NHL. As for the likelihood of such a trade happening, it’s tough to rule it out completely. Perhaps Crosby never leaves the Penguins.
But if it does, one has to believe Florida would be high on the list.
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