Breaking News: Toronto Maple Leafs finally sign Sidney Crosby for $85.5 million from Pittsburgh Penguins…..
With the Toronto Maple Leafs opening a new chapter under head coach Craig Berube and the Pittsburgh Penguins approaching the end of the Sidney Crosby era, there may be a way the two franchises can help each other improve their futures.
In the eyes of TSN’s OverDrive host Bryan Hayes, that could come with two bold moves completed by both front offices in the summer of 2025. Hayes shared his idea — one dependent on Crosby reaching free agency — on the show on July 3.
If [Crosby] is going to wait it out, play his final year, and hit free agency next year, [then he should sign with] the Toronto Maple Leafs — it doesn’t get bigger than that in the hockey world,” Hayes said.
“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 under contract with the Penguins for one more season. He last signed a 12-year, $104.4 million deal with the Penguins in 2013 that runs through the 2024-25 season. After that, however, he will become an unrestricted free agent.
Tavares, the other key piece in this puzzle, is also entering the final season of a seven-year, $77 million contract signed in 2018 with the Maple Leafs.
Assuming both players go to market, Hayes said, there is no better option for the Leafs and Crosby than to start a late-career relationship together.
Toronto could sign the legendary center to use him in the role that Tavares would leave open after his contract runs out in July 2025.
