Mark Madden: Don't expect Sidney Crosby to finish his career in Canada

A bunch of Canadian media used their platform to try to wish Sidney Crosby to a Canadian team, speculating that the Penguins and Crosby may (this got said with great gravitas) talk about his future this coming offseason, and what would be Crosby’s likely destination?

That “speculation” (read: made-up drivel) was inflated on Twitter, which erroneously turned it into “possibility.” That was the idea all along: To spark a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The quickly lost caveat: “If the Penguins hire a GM who wants to totally rebuild.” But owner Mario Lemieux would never trade Crosby. Lemieux knows the value of a star.

It’s impossible to say 100% that Crosby will finish his career in Pittsburgh. But Crosby has never made even the slightest noise about leaving.

If he ever does, the Penguins shouldn’t listen.

Crosby is scheduled to make just $3 million per year in his last three contracted seasons, which run from 2022-25. That’s a bargain. Crosby will still contribute, and he will still be Crosby. Even if the Penguins don’t contend, tickets (we hope) and merchandise need to be sold.

Crosby has done a lot for the Penguins. The franchise has done a lot for Crosby, too. He’s been paid $138 million. He’s delivered three Stanley Cup titles and been well-compensated (though he’s hardly been greedy). It’s been a very mutually beneficial relationship.

The owners are the employers. The players are employees. It’s a concept that’s been lost.

Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson has asked to be traded. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers has hinted about leaving. But Rodgers likes attention, and to complain.

But neither the Texans nor the Packers seem interested in trading their QB, nor should they. Watson is signed through 2025. If the Texans aren’t performing to his liking, perhaps Watson needs to play better. Rodgers is signed through 2023. If he’s frustrated because the Packers can’t get over the top, well, he’s the guy that’s 1-4 in conference championship games.

Watson has made $40.7 million in salary over four seasons. Rodgers got a whopping $240.9 million over 16 seasons.

Neither has been cheated. They signed contracts. Go to work. The idea that a contracted player should be traded because that’s what he wants is laughable. (Then again, Rodgers is making the same as Detroit’s Jared Goff. Yikes. Rodgers wants a new deal, not a new team.)

Legit, old-school impact players create opportunities to win. They don’t hop from team to team looking to exploit a foundation laid by others, or in a crass money grab.

That’s why Crosby won’t leave Pittsburgh. Not his style.

But, if covid keeps all of the NHL’s Canadian teams in one division indefinitely, Crosby might be tempted to head north. That grouping is like a minor league with lots of star power. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, etc. get lots of turkeys to shoot.

That’s how McDavid has 22 points in 11 games and Montreal sits in first place after being the No. 24 seed in last year’s playoffs. (But they did eliminate the Penguins.)

The last time a Canadian-based team won the Stanley Cup was Montreal in 1993. Toronto, the self-styled hockey capital of the world, last won a Cup in 1967. Edmonton most recently did it in 1990, Calgary in 1989. Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver have never won.

Dragging the current Penguins to a playoff berth might be hard. But if Crosby headed to Canada, he’d assume a much bigger burden and a lot more pressure at a time when his skills were no longer at their peak.