With the Toronto Maple Leafs opening a new chapter under head coach Craig Berube and the Pittsburgh Penguins nearing the end of the Sidney Crosby era, there’s a potential opportunity for both franchises to make strategic moves to enhance their futures.
TSN’s OverDrive host Bryan Hayes proposed two bold moves for the summer of 2025, contingent on Crosby reaching free agency. On the July 3rd show, Hayes suggested, “If (Crosby) is going to wait it out, play his final year, and hit free agency next year, the Toronto Maple Leafs—it doesn’t get bigger than that in the hockey world. Maybe the greatest Canadian captain of all time, or real close to it, with Wayne Gretzky, with Mark Messier, with Mario Lemieux. One of the great winners of all time. Golden goal in 2010. Come home, come to Canada, end the Canadian Cup drought as a Maple Leaf. [John] Tavares leaves, Sid comes in. It all works out for everybody.”
Crosby is currently under contract with the Penguins until the end of the 2024-25 season, having signed a 12-year, $104.4 million deal in 2013. After that, he will become an unrestricted free agent. Tavares, meanwhile, is entering the final season of his seven-year, $77 million contract with the Maple Leafs, signed in 2018.
Assuming both players hit the free-agent market, Hayes believes there is no better option for the Leafs than to bring Crosby on board, filling the role Tavares would vacate. This could offer a late-career resurgence for Crosby in Toronto, a fitting end for one of hockey’s greatest Canadian players.
is Sidney Crosby Leaving Pittsburgh?
As the 2024 free agency period approached, speculation grew about the futures of top players. Just as Steven Stamkos left the Tampa Bay Lightning for the Nashville Predators, there’s growing talk about Crosby’s potential departure from the Penguins. Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now noted, “There are lingering and significant questions without definitive answers. Yet the circumstantial evidence is piling up, and arrows are beginning to point to a full-scale rebuild, not a retool on the fly, for the Pittsburgh Penguins beginning within the next 12 months.”
Kingerski emphasized the lack of progress in contract talks between Crosby and the Penguins, suggesting a rebuild might be on the horizon. Crosby, who will be 37 during his final contracted year with Pittsburgh, scored 94 points (42 goals, 52 assists) in the 2024 season but could not lead the Penguins to the postseason.
Potential Captaincy Change for the Maple Leafs
While the Maple Leafs have seen Mitch Marner capture most headlines, captain John Tavares has recently come under scrutiny. Signed in 2018 and named captain in 2019, Tavares may soon see his leadership role shift. NHL insider Nick Kypreos suggested on Sportsnet’s Real Kyper & Bourne show that the Leafs might consider passing the captaincy to Auston Matthews.
Kypreos explained, “From what I’m hearing, the Leafs are contemplating taking the captaincy away from him and giving it to Auston (Matthews). They will talk about it. I’m not saying it’s going to happen, but it’s real.” James Mirtle of The Athletic echoed this sentiment, noting, “Matthews wants it and he’s the face of the franchise… I think it’s time to turn the page, it hasn’t really worked out with Tavares as captain.”
Tavares scored 29 goals and 36 assists for a total of 65 points in the 2024 season but only managed 1 goal and 1 assist in seven postseason games, leading to another early playoff exit.
Conclusion
As both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins navigate pivotal moments, the potential moves involving Sidney Crosby and John Tavares could significantly impact their futures. The Leafs might capitalize on Crosby’s availability, offering him a role that aligns with his stature and ambition. Meanwhile, the Penguins face the challenge of negotiating Crosby’s future amid rebuilding talks. Both franchises must weigh their options carefully to ensure they are well-positioned for success in the coming years.