Boston Bruins absurd trade analyzer: Sidney Crosby

Let’s just start off with how unlikely of a scenario this is. The Boston Bruins being able to acquire a talent like Sidney Crosby seems a bit banana land as we stand, but anything is possible.

Reports have surfaced about all core members of the Pittsburgh Penguins being options to be moved as the Stanley Cup window for this franchise seems good as closed. Even new Penguins’ President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke made these comments only a few months before signing onto his new role:

I don’t think Pittsburgh is good enough to win. No matter what they do now with their cap situation I think that window has closed, for me. I love Jimmy Rutherford, you know that, but I look in the East and I say are they better than Tampa? Nope. Are they better than Washington? Nope. Are they better than Boston? Nope.

Enticing stuff. Even if the Penguins do decide to rebuild though, it’s tough to imagine a franchise cornerstone like Sidney Crosby would be moved no matter the situation.

If Crosby was to be made available – the Bruins would probably not be an initial favourite to land the all-time great. Boston would be a great destination for Sid the Kid competition-wise as they continue to be one of the powerhouses of the NHL. The positional fit as well as the cap gymnastics required to make a deal though would be the biggest issue. That along with Don Sweeney’s hard stance on not mortgaging the future.

The Boston Bruins are heading into an interesting offseason no matter the case with the likes of David Krejci and Tuukka Rask hitting unrestricted free agent status this offseason. The Bruins could even be candidates for another ‘hybrid rebuild’ depending on this season’s outcome.

If Don Sweeney was feeling crazy and decided to take the definition of the all-in route, what would a trade to a rebuilding Pittsburgh squad look like?

Boston Bruins – Pittsburgh Penguins megadeal.

It’s really tough to say what a potential Sidney Crosby trade would look like as a player of his caliber doesn’t become available every day.

No matter the case, the haul would have to be a monster for what is still a top-5 player in the league. The fact that Crosby averages over a point per game and are under contract until 2025 for a severe underpayment at $8.7 million per year makes the player so much more valuable.

In this trade scenario, the Boston Bruins would be in full-on future mortgaging mode. Losing their top forward prospect in Jack Studnicka and top defenceman prospect in Urho Vaakanainen along with two future 1sts would be tough to swallow for Bruins management.

For a rebuilding Pittsburgh Penguins team though, this is the motherload. If you think about the returns that other core pieces Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang could bring back, plus what would be a ridiculous Crosby return – they could have the easiest rebuild of all-time.

The prize coming back the Boston Bruins’ way would be more than worth it in the three-time Stanley Cup champion.

How could the Boston Bruins fit Sid the Kid under the cap?

It wouldn’t be easy, but it would be possible.

The Boston Bruins currently have near $6 million worth of cap space and Don Sweeney could make a few contracts disappear if it meant being able to slide a guy like Sidney Crosby into the lineup.

It is also entirely possible a rebuilding squad in the Pittsburgh Penguins would be willing to retain a few bucks in salary if it meant a return like what they should receive in any Crosby deal.