“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,” Hayes told reporters. “Maybe the greatest Canadian captain of all time, or very close to it, alongside Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, and Mario Lemieux.
“Among the greatest victories of all time. Golden goal in 2010. Come home, come to Canada, and break the Canadian Cup drought as a Maple Leaf. [John] Tavares goes, and Sid enters. “Everything works out for everyone.”
Crosby is under contract with the Penguins for one more season. He last signed a 12-year, $104.4 million contract with the Penguins in 2013, which extends through the 2024-25 season. After that, he will be an unrestricted free agent.
Tavares, the second essential piece in this puzzle, is in the final season of a seven-year, $77 million contract with the Maple Leafs, which he signed in 2018.
Assuming both players enter the market, Hayes believes there is no better choice for the Leafs and Crosby than to begin a late-career partnership.
Toronto might sign the famous centre to fill the role that Tavares will leave open after his contract expires in July 2025.
Is Sidney Crosby on his way out of Pittsburgh?
Nothing happens unless it occurs. Just a few days before the 2024 free agency period, there were speculations that Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos may leave the only team he had ever played for.
It seemed almost tough to believe, but on July 1, Stamkos became the newest member of the Nashville Predators.
Is Crosby going to have the same destiny as Stamkos? According to Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now, everything points to that conclusion.
“There are many unanswered questions. However, circumstantial evidence is mounting, and arrows are pointing to a full-scale rebuild, rather than a retool on the fly, for the Pittsburgh Penguins starting within the next year,” Kingerski stated. “For starters, it’s July 3.” Where is Sidney Crosby’s new contract?
“Clearly, concerns are being discussed, and despite two months of conversation between the two sides, they have not been resolved. Kyle Dubas, the Penguins’ president of hockey operations and general manager, and Crosby have both maintained that the conversations and negotiations will take place privately. That is good, but neither side has used the phrase ‘optimistic.'”
Crosby spoke with media on June 29 about the unveiling of Team Canada’s first six players for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off, but he did not indicate any progress in contract discussions with the Penguins.
Crosby will play hockey at the age of 37, in the final year of his contract with Pittsburgh, with a budget charge of $8.7 million. The centre has 94 points (42 goals, 52 assists) in 2024, but he couldn’t lead the Penguins to the playoffs.
Will John Tavares be stripped of the Maple Leafs captaincy?
While Mitch Marner has dominated the Maple Leafs headlines, Toronto’s captain, John Tavares, has recently joined them.
The Leafs signed Tavares to a big contract in 2018, then just one year later, in October 2019, the franchise granted him the “C” as the team’s captain.
Tavares’ days as captain may be numbered, according to NHL insider and former franchise player Nick Kypreos, who discussed the possibility on Sportsnet’s Real Kyper & Bourne podcast on July 1.
“From what I’m hearing, the Leafs are contemplating taking the captaincy away from him and giving it to Auston (Matthews),” he stated. “They will discuss it. I am not saying it will happen, but it is genuine.”
In 2024, Tavares scored 29 goals and 36 assists for a total of 65 points. He only managed one goal and one assist in seven postseason games, dropping out of the playoffs early once more.
One day after Kypreos initially published the rumours of Toronto’s prospective captain change, The Athletic’s James Mirtle was asked about it and shared similar opinions on The JD Bunkis Show on July 2.
“It doesn’t surprise me,” Mirtle remarked of Kypreos’ report. “I haven’t heard that from within the organization, but at some point, they’ll want to give it to Matthews.” So, should they do it this autumn, or do they wait another year when Tavares’ contract expires before doing it?
“But it will happen, and you know Matthews wants it. He’s the franchise’s face, and you want to keep him.”
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