Peat
Registered User
- Jun 14, 2016
- 30,234
- 25,864
I don't want to see Crosby play for another team, but the objective truth IMO is that the sooner Crosby leaves, the better it is for the team to actually make the changes it needs.
I think the best case scenario for the Penguins is Crosby re-signs for a 1 year deal, plays at the Olympics in 2026 and he and Malkin retire together after the 2026 season. But it sounds like Crosby's extension is going to be in the 3 year range, which just complicates things.
I also think it makes it more likely Malkin doesn't retire and is retained after the 2026 off-season, which is another thing I don't particularly want to see happen.
The one thing I would say about this from a traditional draft and develop, build around high picks model - we've seen a lot of teams go through prolonged misery because they didn't have enough around their high picks.
And right now the Pens looks like they'd offer very thin insulation to a new kid without Sid.
Hopefully, a prolonged Crosby exit can prevent that. Build up a cadre of young players who have some value as rentals, or who can offer help and hope to a new franchise player before they get there.
Ultimately it's the same timeline either way - just this would be more fun to watch and maybe it goes right.
They keep on saying they are going to rebuild and be competitive with the guys in the room.
I think the issue is everyone knows if we rebuild the guys in the room aren't going to be here.
I'm reading his words and I think stuff like "we're not going for quick fix FA guys, we would if we were closer to being a contender but we're not" (to paraphrase) is pretty direct on where they are in terms of being competitive.
And the stuff about it not being a strip down to the studs but otherwise trying everything they can to get assets says where they are. It's a rebuild. Or a reload.
And apart from Sid, which is allegedly the safest of safe deals on extending, there's nobody in the room where the Pens don't control their future.