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Penguins May Have Deal Developing With Canadiens After Carey Price Trade
After the Carey Price trade to the San Jose Sharks, the Montreal Canadiens now have more salary cap space to try and make a run at a Penguins player like Sidney Crosby or Bryan Rust.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are officially at a crossroads in their franchise history, as their Stanley Cup window is nowhere near open, while they could be facing a long-term rebuilding process that may last years.
After the Montreal Canadiens opened up valuable salary cap space by trading the contract of goaltender Carey Price and his AAV (average annual value) of $10.5 million to the San Jose Sharks, speculation is building that it could be the precursor to another move.
Will Sidney Crosby finish his career in Pittsburgh
There's no denying that Sidney Crosby has been one of the most loyal players in the NHL over the last several years, even agreeing last year to a 2 year extension with his customary AAV of $8.7 million, an obvious superstitious nod to his No. 87 sweater number.
But the fact that the Penguins have almost no realistic chance at competing for the playoffs this year, let alone a Stanley Cup, could have Crosby thinking about wanting to chase 1 last title before he retires.
Sidney Crosby has been linked to the Canadiens, his boyhood team
Crosby grew up in Nova Scotia, rooting for the Candiens as a boy, and the Canadiens have even been linked to Crosby in recent rumors.
ESPN analyst linked Crosby to the Canadiens Greg Wyshynski in July:
I've long believed that Sidney Crosby will end his career in Montreal. If he's gonna go anywhere and he's gonna try to do something spectacular, (that's) being part of the legacy and lineage of the Montreal Canadiens, being part of a team that's got upward trajectory and have a good chance, maybe (win) a late career championship with a team that hasn't won since 1993.
I always assumed if it wasn't Pittsburgh, it would be Montreal.
I always assumed if it wasn't Pittsburgh, it would be Montreal.
As the most recent Canadian-based team to win the Stanley Cup, it would only add to Crosby's legacy if he were to help the Habs lift their 25th Cup before he retires.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 5 | 20 ANSWERS Penguins May Have Deal Developing With Canadiens After Carey Price Trade Will the Penguins eventually make a trade with the Canadiens? | ||
| Yes | 12 | 60 % |
| No | 8 | 40 % |
| List of polls | ||