The Montreal Canadiens are in a position to move forward with their rebuild to the point that they could soon be Stanley Cup contenders. The team made the playoffs last season earlier than expected and has made moves to improve this season by acquiring Noah Dobson. To make that next step, the Canadiens need to solidify their second-line centre spot, and by trading for Sidney Crosby, they will not only do that but put themselves in a position to contend.
Crosby Solidifies the Canadiens’ Top Six
If the Canadiens could broker a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins, it would be the icing on the cake for not only the top six but also the top nine. The first line is set in stone (unless someone like Cole Caufield or Juraj Slafkovsky gets moved to Pittsburgh), with Nick Suzuki centring Caufield and Slafkovsky. The second line would have Crosby with sniper Patrick Laine and budding phenom Ivan Demidov. This would turn the Habs’ top-six into one of the best in the league and make the team an offensive powerhouse almost overnight. This firepower up front would then be complemented by a strong offensive-defence core of Noah Dobson, Lane Hutson and Mike Matheson.
With Crosby filling out the second-line centre spot, this moves Kirby Dach to the third line with possibly Alex Newhook and Zach Bolduc. The Canadiens are gaining substantial depth and scoring in the top nine, along with a strong fourth line featuring Brendan Gallagher, Josh Anderson, and Jake Evans. This would be the first time in decades that Montreal had a lineup this deep and practical, with all lines a potential threat. Even the power play (PP) will boast solid depth, featuring multiple players capable of playing on either the first or second unit, effectively creating two top PPs that will be challenging to contain.
Canadiens Would Need to Give to Get
The Penguins have no plans to move Crosby, unless he asks for one, which some could speculate his agent wants him to do. The Penguins are headed for a rebuild, with several aging players, but their contracts aren’t too bad, considering. Crosby, for instance, is only an average value annual (AAV) of $8.7 million, which is a steal for what he brought last season at 37 years old; he had 91 points in 80 games. The fact that he is who he is and continues to produce at a high level this late in his career means Crosby won’t come cheap. The Canadiens would…
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