Mutual benefit to Crosby exit

Trading captain the best way for Penguins to get infusion of young talent

- DAMIEN COX

Sidney Crosby, who could play another five to seven years, - may sign a contract = extension with the Penguins this summer, Damien Cox writes. But unless something extraordinary happens, he'll be signing up to play many years for a -losing team.

Eventually, Sidney Crosby will have to move on. He won't finish his career as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

It's a bit sad to say that. But it's reality. The vast majority of hockey greats move on toward the end of their careers: Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Patrick Kane, Mats Sundin, Jarome Iginla, Mike Modano, Peter Forsberg, Martin Brodeur, Duncan Keith, Raymond Bourque, Mark Messier.

At one point few would have imagined any of those players wouldn't finish their careers with the teams that defined their greatness. But it happened. Sometimes because they wanted to move on. Sometimes because they weren't wanted anymore. And sometimes because it became clear the team they had played years for needed to benefit by trading them.

In a perfect world, Crosby would conclude his time in Pittsburgh like Steve Yzerman did in Detroit after 22 seasons. The Red Wings didn't need to trade him and get assets in return, and the team was strong, no longer needing him to be its best player.

The Penguins, however, are at the opposite end of the spectrum. They won't make the playoffs for a second straight year. The current squad appears to want the season to be over as soon as possible. In the last two weeks Pittsburgh has lost games by scores of 6-1, 6-0, 5-1 and 4-0. The Penguins were 25th in the NHL after Wednesday's games, with just 28 wins in 64 games.