Sidney Crosby's not going anywhere yet, and while it makes zero sense if you ask me since the Pittsburgh Penguins would get a ransom, I'll give a balanced take on this. At least the youngsters in the Steel City would have arguably the best mentor in hockey.
Few know how to win like Crosby, who has three Stanley Cup Championships and had played in four of them. Keeping him in Pittsburgh would keep up the winning culture that the Penguins have enjoyed since Mario Lemieux was drafted, even if they've fallen into some pitfalls.
Still, the Penguins haven't housed many bad hockey teams over the last four-plus decades, and Mario's presence on and off the ice, in various roles with the organization, helped spearhead the Pens most recent championship runs.
That said, why not keep Crosby around? It's rinse and repeat. And if it worked with Mario, why wouldn't it work with Sid? Assuming he wants to stick around and Kyle Dubas was telling us the truth the other day.
Sidney Crosby sticking around the Pittsburgh Penguins will also pay dividends
Would this be a faster rebuild? I can't answer that, but you know my vibes are saying no. Still, it boils down to the long term, and if the Penguins think they're better off long term with Crosby sticking around until he hangs up the skates, then that's the direction they need to go.
Plus, there's still Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust, who'd both bring in generous compensation if and when the Penguins fall outta contention. And if they play well, we don't need to rule out a first-round pick, but even if you got something similar to what you traded Jake Guentzel for, you're on the right track.
The Carolina Hurricanes underpaid for Guentzel, but that'd be fair compensation if you're trading Rakell or Rust. They're not star players, but excellent supporting assets who'll slide right into a contender's second or third line, and make fans glad their team traded for them.
Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, Crosby can help lead the youngsters back into, or at least close to, playoff contention. And if the Pens play well enough, maybe he'll start signing a year-to-year contract, and see if he won't stay until the Pens force their way back into the postseason.
Hey, if he can still go at a high level, then why not? It won't be long until we see what ultimately happens here, but regardless if Crosby stays or goes, don't be surprised if the Pens turn the corner faster than most teams.
More from Pens Labyrinth