Looking ahead to this offseason and knowing this team's needs, I think Sweeney should be trying to pry Sidney Crosby out of Pittsburgh. I know Kyle Dubas is on record as saying he doesn't want to start the rebuild this offseason, but they are a very old roster and they've got a bunch of pieces that are going to be hard to move. Malkin is 37 and has 3 more years at $6.1 million, Erik Karlsson has 3 more years at $10 million, and both have NMC's. Tristan Jarry has been a disaster and has 4 years left at $5.375 plus a no-trade. With $12 million in cap room, is there a path to improving the roster enough to be a contender? Does Sidney Crosby want to hang around to wait for them to rebuild at 36 years old?
Crosby is making $8.7 million next year and will want a new contract. The Bruins can easily add his salary and also make improvements in other areas. The downside to making such an offer is lack of draft picks, but would a package of Zacha/RFA rights to Swayman/Lysell/Lohrei/2025 1st be enticing?