In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: the ongoing concern over Sidney Crosby’s contract talks while the Blues’ addition of Philip Broberg leaves them with a logjam on defense.
LATEST ON SIDNEY CROSBY
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Jason Mackey last weekend observed the “weird amount of silence” regarding Sidney Crosby’s contract extension talks with the Penguins. He considers the situation “worrisome”.
Mackey suggested the 37-year-old center’s best shot of winning his fourth Stanley Cup isn’t in Pittsburgh and it might be best for the Penguins to blow up the roster and start over. However, he doesn’t expect Crosby to depart or the Penguins to start rebuilding.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).
Nevertheless, the longer this situation goes the more Mackey believes one side doesn’t want to dance.
THE ATHLETIC: In a recent mailbag segment, Josh Yohe believes Crosby wants to finish his career with the Penguins even if it means he might not get another shot at winning the Cup. Calling the future Hall-of-Famer “a man of integrity and loyalty”, Yohe thinks that winning the Cup with Pittsburgh over the next five years means more than winning it with another team.
Asked by a reader what a hypothetical Crosby trade might look like, Yohe doesn’t see the Penguins captain getting moved. However, if it came to pass, he expects the return would be “a 2025 first-round pick, a 2026 first-round pick, a top prospect, and a young NHL player.” He also thinks they’d have to take on a heavily salaried player to make up the difference under the salary cap for whatever club took on Crosby.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s the dog days of the offseason for Penguins followers so there’s little to talk about other than Crosby’s contract. It’s a bit surprising that it hasn’t been done yet but not concerning. As I said before, there’s plenty of time between now and the start of the season to get it done.
It could take until sometime during the season before it’s done However, both sides probably want to avoid that situation as it would become an unnecessary distraction for Crosby and the club.
BLUES FACE A BLUELINE LOGJAM
STLTODAY.COM: Matthew DeFranks noted that the addition of Philip Broberg leaves the St. Louis Blues with 10 defensemen on one-way contracts, joining Justin Faulk, Torey Krug, Colton Parayko, Nick Leddy, Scott Perunovich, Matthew Kessel, Tyler Tucker, Ryan Suter and Pierre-Olivier Joseph.
At most, the Blues will keep eight defensemen on their roster, leaving two as the odd men out.
Krug’s status is uncertain as he receives treatment for pre-arthritic changes in his left ankle. He could need season-ending surgery.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Surgery for Krug will partly address that crowded blueline. Olivier, Tucker and Kessel can be sent to the Blues’ AHL affiliate.
A trade is also possible but demotions seem the easiest way to address this situation.