Sidney Crosby's Agent Suggests Trade Potentially on the Way in Pittsburgh

For the last three years, it's been nothing short of difficult to watch Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins struggle the way they have.

The team has been trying to patch holes instead of fixing the foundation, and trading for an aging Erik Karlsson was not the answer; it was clear the Penguins were not getting any younger.

Instead of giving Sidney Crosby the supporting cast he deserves, Pittsburgh feels like they are stuck in no man's land, too old to compete at the highest level, and too stubborn to accept that a rebuild was always the best course of action.

Now, the talk around Crosby's future is louder than ever. His longtime agent, Pat Brisson, confirmed in a recent interview with The Athletic that it's a possibility that Crosby leaves Pittsburgh this year.

That might sound shocking, but in reality, it makes sense for both parties. Crosby still wants to win, and the Penguins don't have the pieces to get back to contender status. A rebuild feels like the only logical move for the franchise, and trading Crosby could be the first step.

Even at 37, Crosby would bring immense value to any team. He's still producing at a high level, and his contract remains very reasonable, $8.7 million annually, the number he's carried for most of his career.

The Montreal Canadiens, in many ways, have everything it would take to make a blockbuster for Sidney Crosby work, as much as it may pain Leafs Nation to think about that possibility.

Another team that has been linked to Crosby for years is the Colorado Avalanche. They only have $1.3 million in cap space, but moving out Martin Necas, who is signed at $6.5 million for one more year, could be a good way to get a lot closer to unite good friends Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon in Colorado.

As for the Maple Leafs, bringing Crosby to Toronto is a pipe dream. The Leafs just don't have the assets to make it work.

At some point, sentiment can't outweigh the reality: Sidney Crosby may have to leave Pittsburgh to chase another Stanley Cup before he retires.