If you were to ask anyone, adding Sidney Crosby to your team feels like winning the lottery. Pittsburgh has reaped the benefits of the iconic Cole Harbour superstar as he has cemented himself as one of the greatest to ever do it.
But with Crosby getting older, and Pittsburgh stuck in the mud, could the legendary center be on the move? According to the Steve Dangle Podcast: Toronto has the pieces, even if it might hurt a bit.
Trade Packages For Sidney Crosby
During their Q&A segment on the most recent Steve Dangle Podcast, hosts Steve Dangle, Adam Wylde, and Jesse Blake answered various fan questions regarding a whole bunch of topics.
One question asked if they would accept a trade of Crosby for Matthew Knies, Dennis Hildeby, and a first-round pick. This kicked off the speculation of what pieces could be used to swing Crosby over to Toronto:
Steve Dangle: ‘I was just talking about how much I love Knies, and Crosby and a potential trade or whatever…the conversation became basically ‘Who gives a s*** it’s Sidney Crosby.”
Co-host Jesse Blake mentioned it being a bad trade, talking about how their wing strength is not strong enough to warrant bringing in Crosby:
Jesse Blake: ‘That’s not good, they don’t have the strength on the wing, so you’re just gonna suck in one area to make up for it [the additions]?’
After a lengthy discussion, there were a few packages that came about. Blake suggested the following trade:
Pittsburgh Acquires: Easton Cowan, Fraser Minten, Morgan Rielly, 2 First Round Picks
Toronto Acquires: Sidney Crosby
This trade gets rid of both current and future prospects for the chance to have Crosby on the team. Losing your two best prospects in Minten and Cowan hurts, but for the chance to win and have arguably the greatest collection of centers in one lineup; it’s hard to pass up.
It also solves Toronto’s logjam at defense, and if they can bring in another proper shutdown defender, losing Rielly wouldn’t hurt too much especially since he’s having a down year, and would help eat some salary. Toronto also gives up a couple of firsts to sweeten the pot.
The second deal offered, is one where Toronto completely nukes their future prospect plans in favor of winning with Knies, Rielly and Crosby all together.
Pittsburgh Acquires: Easton Cowan, Fraser Minten, and the entirety of Toronto’s 2025 Entry Draft selections (2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th)
Toronto acquires: Sidney Crosby
This trade makes a statement in regards to paying to win now and worrying about their future later. It’s going to be hard to argue that any of the picks Pittsburgh receives turn into anything, and drafting is always a risk.
Kyle Dubas could use these picks in order to help bring some other assets to his team, and he acquires two highly prized draft picks with Minten NHL-ready.
