It is now September, training camps are weeks away, and Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has been eligible to sign an extension since July 1 but hasn’t.
There are many reasons behind the lack of news regarding this particular extension, one being that Crosby just turned 37 and is now in the twilight of his career.
Meanwhile, the Penguins are no longer considered Stanley Cup favorites; instead, they are a fringe playoff team at best.
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Unfortunately, for 20 seasons, Pittsburgh fans have been spoiled by Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Marc-Andre Fleury. However, this era is swiftly coming to an end.
Until Crosby signs an extension, the chatter surrounding the Penguins’ star player will not fade.
Related: Crosby’s Next Contract Will Extend His Reign as NHL’s Top Career Earner
So, in a hypothetical situation, if the long-time captain opts to continue his career somewhere else, let’s see which teams he could lace’em for.
5. Tampa Bay Lightning
Realistically, all 31 NHL teams outside of Pittsburgh would love a gifted player like Crosby in their lineup. The Tampa Bay Lightning already employs the league’s leading scorer (Nikita Kucherov) and recently added Crosby’s old linemate, Jake Guentzel, as a free agent.
Considering the Lightning is only three years removed from winning back-to-back Stanley Cup titles, their core is so deep and talented that Crosby’s leadership and experience would push them back to the top of the contender list.
4. Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins make the list because Crosby hails from Nova Scotia, the same province as Brad Marchand. Even though they are bitter rivals during hockey games, as youngsters in Eastern Canada, the two have strong ties to their communities.
Related: 7 Fascinating Statistics About Sidney Crosby’s Career
The Bruins are another Cup contender, but they are just missing a piece to put them over. Their lineup features 60-goal scorer David Pastrnak and Jeremy Swayman between the pipes. Crosby would want one more shot at the Stanley Cup and could be the decisive factor on an already threatening Boston roster.
3. Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers came within a goal of winning the Stanley Cup in 2024 and continue to employ arguably the best player in professional hockey, Connor McDavid.
This upcoming February, Crosby will team with McDavid for Canada at the 4 Nations Face-off, one of the rare opportunities to see two generational talents skating together like Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux at the 1987 Canada Cup.
Considering Edmonton’s lengthy championship drought, Crosby would cement his legacy as a hockey legend by helping McDavid and the Oilers end their 30-year misery without a title win.
2. Montreal Canadiens
In case anyone has forgotten, Sidney’s dad, Troy, was a goalie drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 1984. Although he never played in the NHL, the Canadiens became the family’s favorite team, including the one Sidney grew up watching.
Related: Does Mario Lemieux Still Own the Penguins?
If Crosby had left the Penguins, it would only have been fitting for him to return “home” to Montreal (about a 12-hour drive from Cole Harbor, NS) and to the franchise that drafted his dad.
As an up-and-coming team, the Canadiens are the only club on this list that doesn’t have a chance of winning the Stanley Cup anytime soon. But just like the New York Yankees, the prestige of pulling on a Montreal sweater would be a lifetime thrill.
1. Colorado Avalanche
Crosby’s strongest tie to his native Nova Scotia is his friendship with reigning NHL MVP Nathan MacKinnon. These two have partnered with Tim Horton’s for almost a decade, participating in hilarious product commercials, including hockey cards.
Moreover, the Colorado Avalanche are just two seasons removed from winning the Stanley Cup. With Crosby in the lineup, the Western Conference would be put on notice as the Avs would become the league’s team to beat.
Even though all these possibilities are a long shot, and Crosby will most likely remain a Penguins player for life, he has some interesting options to pursue to finish his career on his terms if he chooses.
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