I know it's early, but where does Crosby play when he becomes a UFA?

Question

I think he will be 25. In his prime. Ready to challenge for some records maybe. Does he stay in Pittsburgh like Lemieux? Does he go to the most talented team with the best chance at winning a ring (if he doesn't already have one by then) ? Does he go to the highest bidder (although every team will max. out for him)? My guess is he goes to the dirty stinkin' Montreal Canadiens.

Sportsfreak-what the hell are you talking about? He doesn't need to be released, as an UFA, he is free to sign with any team. Do you think a team owns a player for life? Also, Gretzky NEVER had 250 points in a season. Duh?

Answer 1

Everyone here in Pittsburgh -- myself included -- likes to believe Crosby will fall in love with the city like Lemieux did and will decide to spend his entire NHL career here.

Whether or not that happens is something completely different. A couple things to address:

(1) Mario had kids and a wife, making him less inclined to up-and-move when he could. Crosby will be livin' the life.

(2) Crosby has always expressed interest in playing for the Habs -- he grew up watching them and his father played for them.

(3) Crosby is hands down a good person. If he feels attached to the city, to the team, and to the fans, there's a chance he will decide to stay.

(4) A lot of this depends on how well the Pens are doing in, uh, six years.

(5) Crosby has mentioned he would be willing to either restructure his contract (like Peyton Manning did after his Super Bowl win), take a pay cut, or help pay the salaries of his teammates if it means saving the Pens' cap space and keeping the core of young guys together.

My bet? He stays in Pittsburgh or he ships out to Montreal. There is no in between.

Answer 2

Not to mention that Gretzky, after great years with the Oilers, had to play through the hooking and grabbing garage league era so why wouldn't Crosby be able to challenge Gretzky's records. Lemieux would have if he would have stayed healthy and both Crosby and Malkin are showing Lemieux like qualities. Also Crosby is one step ahead of Lemieux already because he has quality linemates from his rookie season to the present and for the foreseeable future.

I also think the salary cap will actually help team's in that situation should Crosby demand more money because no team can really go crazy on one player and stay competitive because they are going to shafted one way or another either through loss of players in the trade or loss of a large portion of their salary cap room.

Oh, by the way, Gretzky was not traded to save hockey in L.A. Gretzk was traded because the owner wanted to pocket some money.

Answer 3

Haha he goes to the team with the best chance to win the cup. If the Penguins can prove to him that they will be contenders for many years then he will stay there for his career but if they cant get the fanchise off the ground hes gone. It is every hockey players dream to win the cup. If Crosby doesn't win one his career could never be compared to any of the great players like Lemieux and Gretzky. I think with the Penguins young talent and their recent success that he stays in Pittsburgh for his career.

Answer 4

I would like to say that he stays in Pittsburgh. However, I feel his greatest problem will be that he is just like Gretzky in so many aspects of the, thatI fear he will also follow in his footsteps and play for many teams. He will be the face of the NHL for years to come and is basically responsible for saving the face of the NHL as Gretzky was in LA. Because of this he will be moved in blockbuster trade deals to slumping teams in need of "saving" But before any of this happens I forsee a Edmonton-ish dynasty in Pittsburgh behind young superstars Malkin, Crosby, Staal, and Fleury. With a good supporting cast in Malone, Armstrong, Whitney. In the end look for Crosby to move 3-4 times in his career. My gut tells me the Habs won't make the move for him, but I dont know everything :)

Answer 5

He'll go where the money is best. That means he will go to a team that has a filthy dirty rich owner that doesn't care if his team turns a profit or not. There are always ways of working around the salary cap. It's hard to say now who will be the big big spender then. Dipietro was worth $67.5 million to Charles Wang, what do you think Crosby is worth?

Answer 6

I think he stays in Pittsburgh, simply because of loyalty. I think he will play out at least two contracts for Pittsburgh, and if he wants to move then, he is still young enough to go to his dream team of Montreal. But I think he will be in Pittsburgh until at least 2011.

Answer 7

If he were to leave Pittsburgh for some reason then I think he would go to New York to play for the Rangers'. I think he'll be looking to perform on a high stage with alot of people watching him. Plus, who doesn't want to become a New York Ranger? Crosby would look pretty nice in red,white, and blue.

Answer 8

if the pens don't keep him they are the dumbest people in the world and sid is clearly one of if not the best hockey player in the US if not the world he best stay her for life as for malkin they could sell him to the highest bidder in a few years but hopefully crosby/malkin is the next jagr/lemieux

Answer 9

honestly never. now he will never and i mean NEVER will beat wayne gretzkys 2800 plus points because the game has changed. wayne had 3 straight seasons of 250 points in a season which now the goalies are better,players are better pads are bigger nets are smaller. now he will never be released. the penguins will probably sell out alot of games with malkin and crosby and they should try and sign them as long as possible. he might be released late 30s when hes still good but not as good as he use to be. but only time will tell