The notion that the Montreal Canadiens should pursue a trade for Sidney Crosby to enhance their playoff chances is gaining some traction on social media. On the surface, adding Crosby makes sense. He’s one of the game’s greats and judging by his performance this year, he still has gas in the tank at age thirty-seven. And it’s not just his play on the ice that makes him a valuable asset, it’s his experience and leadership abilities.
Closer scrutiny, however, raises some questions.
The first concern is the salary cap. How does Kent Hughes wedge another $8.7 million contract into his roster without major surgery elsewhere. It might work for the balance of this season but Crosby has two more years after this one remaining on his contract. Big contracts kick in for Kaiden Guhle and Juraj Slafkovsky next year, so salary would likely have to be shed.
One approach would be to allow all the veteran free agents including David Savard, Joel Armia and Christian Dvorak walk or alternatively, trade them. The combined salary of the three would create enough room to absorb Crosby’s contract but their spots on the roster would have to be taken by someone, even it is at league minimum salary.
Let’s assume Kent Hughes is able to trade them. All indicators point to a minimal return and that return would likely be for futures. That’s three players who have contributed to the team’s success who, if traded, provide the team with no immediate help in return. Yes, there are young players in Laval and Europe who may or may not be able to step in and fill those roles for the Canadiens but Pittsburgh is going to want some quality assets in return. Some of those prospects that the Habs want to keep would be on their list.
So now, the team would have cut loose three veterans for marginal draft picks (or less) and given up quality prospects in return for a player who has two years left on his odometer. The entire premise of building an organization designed for long term success would be thrown out the window for a one-time shot at success.
Then there’s the question of Jake Evans. He is in line for a salary increase or would he become one of the victims of a decision to pursue Crosby. The team may not be able to afford both. The tale of the Nashville Predators should serve also as a cautionary flag. Adding top individual talent doesn’t always make a team better and while Steven Stamkos is not Crosby, he is a star in his own right. To say the results have been disappointing is a massive understatement
At first glance, adding Sidney Crosby seems like a no-brainer but how much will the current team be disrupted and how much of the future will be sacrificed. Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton have spent three years carefully assembling the pieces to create what the Habs are now and what they have in terms of high quality prospects for the future. Adding Crosby provides no guarantees of success and completely abandons they path they have chosen.
Look for the Canadiens to adopt a far more measured approach, carefully weighing what they have now, identifying where improvements can be made and then pursuing those players who they judge are a good fit with the team. And some of those players may already be on the team.
At the moment, a Crosby acquisition seems like a high risk long-shot.
