TSN's Darren Dreger: Crosby Deal Done. Parise Next?
PITTSBURGH 993-7 The Fan) - TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger tells The Fan Morning Show on Friday that he feels the Sidney Crosby deal is a fair deal for both him and the Pens.
He said, "Crosby is still the best player in the world... period."
There is a risk every team assumes when signing a player to a long-term deal. Crosby's concussion history was not going to keep the Pens from making this deal.
He said Sid could have asked for more, but he left money on the table so they could have money for other free agents.
Could one of those players be Zach Parise?
Dreger said it's very realistic, but not for both he and defenseman Ryan Suter. He thinks the Pens will be aggressive in getting both to sign, but once Pens GM Ray Shero realizes he doesn't have a chance to sign both, it would be hard for him to not address the team's biggest need on defense and that means the right choice could be Suter.
Darren thinks it may take over $7 million per season to sign both Parise or Suter. The one thing the Pens have going for them is that they give both a chance to play with the world's best players and a real shot at the Stanley Cup.
Does Dreger expect Evgeni Malkin to follow Crosby's lead when signing his new deal?
"Superstar players are smart," Dreger said. "They know if they take up all of the money, there is nothing left for the other key players."
Listen to the full interview here:
