Sidney Crosby remains Dan Muse's centerpiece in Pittsburgh, but one Montreal trade pitch would put Michael Hage and a first-round pick on the table.
Sid Seixeiro floated that exact package on his show, asking Canadiens fans whether they would surrender Hage and a first-rounder for Crosby.
Seixeiro didn't hesitate on his own answer. He said he would make the trade immediately, putting a premium Montreal prospect at the center of a massive hypothetical.
The distinction matters: this is a trade proposal, not a report that Kent Hughes and Pittsburgh are discussing a Crosby deal.
Still, the idea hits directly at Montreal's biggest question. How much of the future should Hughes sacrifice if an elite veteran suddenly becomes available?
Crosby would instantly change Martin St-Louis' top six, giving the Canadiens another high-end center and one of hockey's most experienced leaders.
But Hage is exactly the type of young asset Montreal has spent years developing. Moving him plus a first-round pick would represent a clear shift from building patiently to chasing the present.
" Sid Seixeiro on his show today : "Montreal Canadiens fans right now, a first round pick & Michael Hage for Sidney Crosby, do you do it? I would do that in a second"
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Wild Sidney Crosby trade proposal has Canadiens giving up Michael Hage and first-round pick
The appeal is easy to understand. Adding Crosby behind or alongside Montreal's established offensive core would give St-Louis lineup options few teams could match down the middle.
The cost is what makes the proposal uncomfortable. Hage isn't a disposable prospect added simply to complete the paperwork in a star trade.
And Pittsburgh would have its own reason to demand premium value if Crosby ever became available. A package centered on futures would have to justify moving the face of the franchise.
There is another complication for Montreal: separate reporting has pointed toward Crosby remaining with Pittsburgh rather than preparing for an exit.
That makes Seixeiro's proposal more of a debate about Montreal's timeline than a trade fans should expect to happen tomorrow.
Hughes has been looking for another meaningful addition, but there is a major difference between improving the top six and moving one of the organization's best young assets for an older superstar.
If Crosby ever did become available, Montreal would absolutely have to call. The harder decision would come when Pittsburgh asked for Hage.
Seixeiro already gave his answer. Canadiens fans now have to decide whether Sidney Crosby is the rare player worth changing the entire development plan for.
Would you trade Michael Hage and a first-round pick for Sidney Crosby?
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