While our neighbors to the south (on the verge of civil war?) continue to shoot at each other on a daily basis, sinking deeper and deeper into a democracy for more or less enlightened fools, north of the border, in our “two solitudes”, quite tranquil in “comfort and indifference”, we frantically wonder about the fate of two national glories.
Premier Mark Carney may have had the crowd on its feet this week when it came to Connor McDavid’s contract with the Rocky Mountains ‘ Oilers, but the whole of Quebec’s sporting world is currently focused on Sid the Kid, the beloved star of the previous generation.
So I won’t be too original and will once again add my grain of salt to this cozy debate – which we still have the luxury of indulging in – surrounding Crosby’s possible arrival with the Habs.
I’ve been talking (seriously) about Sidney Crosby coming to Montreal since 2023. I talked about it again in 2024, and again last spring after the Habs were eliminated by the Caps.
But, considering the state of things in Pittsburgh, and on the eve of his final two-year contract that will take him to the doorstep of forty, the temptation to leave the depressing Penguins ice floe for greener pastures must be growing stronger and stronger.
At least, the main interested party and his agent seem to be showing an openness in this matter that we didn’t know they had.
That’s all it took for the sports media to get excited once again. And when it does, there are always those who lean harder on the pitons or speak louder into the microphone!
” It’s going to be expensive! More expensive! More expensive! If you think it’s going to be cheap, you’re in the potato patch! ” Etc
[content-ads]So, according to Pierre McGuire, newly employed to broadcast Penguins games, a commentator who we assume is a bit hip, the question Dubas should be asking Kent Hughes is: “How far are you willing to go to win, Kent?”
Assuming Hughes wants to “win a lot”, McGuire believes Habs would have to give a little more than David Reinbacher, Michael Hage and a first-round pick to convince Dubas to give up Sidney Crosby.
What should Kent Hughes be willing to trade in an attempt to acquire Sidney Crosby?
Pierre McGuire: “I think they want established ‘A’ level prospects, so I would look at it as a 3-component prospect deal “#GoHabsGo #thesickpodcast @TonyMarinaro pic.twitter.com/I20iUv9gVA– The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) September 10, 2025
In my opinion, even if it’s already a little “less worse” than the four first-round picks some(Martin Biron) were talking about in the spring, it still doesn’t make much sense. As good as he is, Crosby is 38 years old and may only have two NHL seasons left. What’s more, he’ll probably be 100% in charge of his next destination, should it come to that.That takes a lot of negotiating power away from his boss, doesn’t it?content-ads]So why would Hughes give away his two best prospects on the verge of making it to the NHL, two top picks – including 5th overall! – hughes may want to win badly, but if Crosby does want to play in Montreal, I don’t think he’d have to give that away to make the Penguins an acceptable offer. If the Penguins are willing to make a move now, for the deal to make sense from an accounting standpoint, the Habs may have to include a Dach or a Newhook, sprinkled with a quality prospect like Engstrom or L.But if the Habs and Penguins decide to wait until later in the season, Hughes might just have to give up, say, two first-round picks in the next two drafts, along with the same Engstrom or Mooney. You can change the names to Roy, Struble, Kapanen, if you like. Still in the early stages of his rebuilding process, Dubas, who has already drafted three times in the first round in 2025, wouldn’t come away empty-handed. Especially when you consider that he would continue to increase his chances of drafting the likes of McKenna, Dupont and Schultz in the next three drafts. ” Well, Patoine, that’s not enough! It’s Crosby“[content-ads]Does the name Noah Dobson ring a bell?The math isn’t that hard to do, and you don’t have to look very far to find a pretty convincing comparison.
As recently as this summer, Hughes and Gorton only had to give away two first-round picks and Emil Heineman to obtain a 6’4, 25-year-old star defenseman who averaged 52 points over the last four seasons, and with whom they were able to agree on an eight-year deal!Not two years, eight!The fact that Dobson wanted to continue his career in Montreal to the detriment of Columbus clearly helped Hughes in his negotiations. Why should it be any different for Crosby? The Jackets could undoubtedly submit an offer at least as good as the Habs’ to the Islanders, but on condition that Dobson agreed to an eight-year deal. The rest is history, so Mathieu Darche had to accept the Habs’ offer. A reasonable offer, of course, but rather modest for a 25-year-old star defenseman, when you think about it… Another example? Last winter, 37-year-old Brad Marchand, a fall player in the summer, wanted to be traded to Florida. Result: it was done. In return, the Bruins had to settle for a conditional second-round pick that became a 1st-round pick following the playoff prowess of Marchand and the Panthers. Marchand isn’t Crosby, I understand. But still. Because Marchand could decide his destination, the Panthers got one of the best wingers of the last 15 years, a player still capable of being very productive, for a song. content-ads]Dubas hopes to have at least two options…By that logic, of course Dubas could always ask if Reinbacher and Hage are available – who knows, maybe Hughes could fold for one of them – but Dubas won’t be in a position todemand both at any cost if Crosby’s wish is to play in Montreal and no other formation.
In that case, the Penguins GM may well have to fall back on a comparable offer (at least the equivalent of two first-round picks), but not as good as one that includes Hage AND Reinbacher, especially if he wants to rebuild faster with prospects who are a little more mature. Of course, if Crosby is also open to playing in Colorado(or elsewhere) and the executives there are willing to part with, say, Martin Necas, that would be a different story. But we’re not there yet, and the idea doesn’t necessarily appeal to everyone in Colorado…
(@JeremyFilosa) 
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