Several hockey shows have begun talking about the end of an era in Pittsburgh. Not because Malkin is likely retiring. Nor because Letang may follow. No no no. We are back on the topic of Sidney Crosby playing elsewhere.
Sure, there’s some logic to this thought. Sid hasn’t signed an extension, and his current deal expires after this season. The team is going to stink this season and maybe for another year or two after. I get all the reasons why he may go play elsewhere. However, anyone who genuinely knows Sidney Crosby knows he isn’t going anywhere.
He is the ultimate creature of habit. His two favorite players only played for one team: Mario Lemieux and Steve Yzerman. Also, I don’t think he would leave the city as a free agent. If Sid was going to leave, he would do it via trade because he wouldn’t want to leave the Penguins high and dry like that.
The reason that won’t happen is simple… Sidney Crosby will not want to be in a different building for Evgeni Malkin’s last NHL game. Sid and Geno are not just the two-headed monster, they are legitimately best friends. They think of one another as brothers, and it would kill Sid to not step out of the tunnel with Geno for his last game.
So if he isn’t going to be traded, and won’t leave as a free agent, why is this a talking point again? It’s all hoopla because the Penguins are bad and it generates clicks.
Sure, as Sid ages, it probably pains him being on a bad team. Sid also probably recognizes that the team is bad in part because he has been vocal about keeping the band together. Keeping all the legends around has stymied the ability to retool. Sid assuredly knows this to be true, and knows the role he has played.
If Sid isn’t wearing a Penguins jersey come next season, it will be because he has decided to walk away from the game at the same time as his Russian counterpart, not because he wants to chase a Cup in Colorado.
