Insider names Edmonton Oilers as potential landing spot for Sidney Crosby in trade
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire - USA Today Sports
A number of analysts from The Athletic formed a roundtable recently to discuss the possibility that Sidney Crosby would agree to be traded to another team, and concluded that there is a 'slight chance' the superstar comes to Edmonton.
Thirty-two staffers, in fact, discussed the scenario of the Penguins Captain leaving the team, and had this to say of him joining the Oilers:
"The Oilers are a Cup contender with arguably the two best players in the league. If Crosby wants to go hunting for a fourth title, there aren't many better places to go in the short term than Edmonton."
There is no question that including Sidney Crosby on a team that has the likes of McDavid, Draisaitl, Boucher, and other notables, would almost guarantee Edmonton a Stanley Cup; and it being this current group of Oilers' first, would make the win that much more special.
In fact, even Crosby's agent had maintained that there was a chance his client could be traded, when he made this comment:
"Let's put it this way, it's always a possibility, you know?» [Agent] Brisson told Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic when asked if Crosby would consider a trade. «It's been three years they haven't made the playoffs. It all depends on how Sid is going to be and how the team is going to do. I maintain the same position that I do believe that he should be playing playoff hockey every year, in my opinion.»
Many puzzle-pieces needed to make Sidney Crosby a fit with the Oilers
Now, though it seems that many of the analysts believe a Sidney Crosby trade is possible, for it to work with Edmonton, a number of circumstances would also need to develop.
The problem is the Oilers are tight against the cap and are low on high-end futures," one analyst said, "something the Penguins would want. Oh yeah, there's also that contract situation with their captain."
Yes, there is that, of course. If Sidney Crosby were to waive his no-trade-clause and agree to come to Edmonton, he would certainly want McDavid to be a part of its roster, something that cannot be said with any kind of certainty.
Of course, it's all speculation. Crosby is in year 1 of his 2-year deal with Pittsburgh at a cap hit of $8.7M, yet another reason why a trade to Edmonton may not work, as the Pens would need to retain a good portion of the AAV, perhaps as much as 50%.
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