Sidney Crosby Injury: 11 Trades the Penguins Could Make If Sid the Kid Misses

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 01: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins walks off the ice after being defeated 3-1 by the Washington Capitals during the 2011 NHL Bridgestone Winter Classic at Heinz Field on January 1, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby may miss every single game in the 2011-12 NHL season as he tries to recover from concussion symptoms.

Crosby won't be ready for training camp or the regular season opener, and if he does return it likely won't be until after January.

Without Crosby, can the Penguins reach the Stanley Cup Finals? No. There are too many teams that are better, and have better goaltending.

They won't get past Boston, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Washington, or even the Rangers.

So let's look at 11 trades that would help the Penguins compete without Crosby.

Nicholas Goss is a Boston Bruins featured columnist for Bleacher Report and was the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston. Follow him on Twitter for NHL news and analysis. Follow @NicholasGoss35.

Acquire Jarome Iginla

SAN JOSE, CA - MARCH 23: Jarome Iginla #12 of the Calgary Flames in action against the San Jose Sharks at the HP Pavilion on March 23, 2011 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The Penguins don't have a high scoring winger, and acquiring one who is also a great power forward would be a fantastic move.

Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames has played a brilliant career, but the lack of a Stanley Cup on his resume may make him request a trade soon, and the Penguins are a very good team.

Jordan Staal, Eric Tangradi, and a second-round pick in 2012 for Iginla would be worth it for Pittsburgh.

Acquire Matt D'Agostini

DETROIT, MI - MARCH 30: Matt D'Agostini #36 of the St. Louis Blues looks on the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena on March 30, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Matt D'Agostini is a good eight winger who could flourish with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Sending a second or third-round pick for the 2012 NHL draft may be enough to get him from St. Louis. You can never have enough depth on the wings.

Acquire Adrian Aucoin

GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 18: Adrian Aucoin #33 of the Phoenix Coyotes in action in Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Detroit Red Wings during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Jobing.com Arena on April 18, 2011 in Glendale, Ar

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The Phoenix Coyotes won't return to the NHL playoffs next year, so trading some aging players for draft picks is a smart idea.

Adrian Aucoin is an aging player, but he can still help at blueline depth to a contender. A fourth or fifth-round pick for Aucoin could be a decent move for Pittsburgh.

Trade Away Matt Cooke

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 13: Matt Cooke #24 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Edmonton Oilers on March 13, 2011 at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

Matt Cooke is arguably the most hated player in the NHL, and he is public enemy No. 1 in several cities—including Boston.

Cooke is not a very good player, and getting rid of him would help on the ice and in the PR department. Trading Cooke for a draft pick would be a smart move for the Penguins.

Acquire Ray Whitney

GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 20: Ray Whitney #13 of the Phoenix Coyotes skates with the puck in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Detroit Red Wings during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Jobing.com Arena on April 20, 2011 in Glen

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Ray Whitney is a great veteran player who could help the Penguins for a year or two while they see if Sidney Crosby will ever return to the ice.

A third-round pick or a lower level prospect could be enough to the get the Coyotes veteran.

Acquire Mathieu Perreault

GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 14: Mathieu Perreault #85 of the Washington Capitals passes the puck during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on February 14, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Capitals 3-2. (Photo by

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Mathieu Perreault has a lot of talent but likely isn't a major part of the Washington Capitals future. The Penguins could acquire the young forward for a second- or third-round pick.

Perreault would be a nice addition to the offense and has 20-goal potential.

Acquire Johnny Boychuk

Johnny Boychuk is a good defenseman who is solid defensively and has a rocket of a slapshot.

The Penguins could acquire him with a second-round pick, and he is still young enough that he could play a big role with the team going forward.

He also has significant playoff experience from his time in Boston.

Acquire Ryan Suter

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 15: Ryan Suter #20 of the Nashville Predators looks on prior to the start of Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Anaheim Ducks during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center on April 15, 2011 in Anah

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Ryan Suter is due for a big raise next summer, and the Nashville Predators should re-sign captain Shea Weber and goalie Pekke Rinne before Suter.

Suter would be a great addition to the Penguins, but it would cost a lot to get him from Nashville.

Paul Martin, a 2012 first-round pick, and a fifth-round pick could acquire Suter.

Acquire Nik Antropov

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 27: Nik Antropov #80 of the Atlanta Thrashers skates against the Ottawa Senators at the Philips Arena on March 27, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Thrashers defeated the 5-4 in the shoot out. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Nik Antropov is a big forward and uses his size and strength to his advantage. He could give some size and offense to the Penguins, and he would benefit from playing with much better players in Pittsburgh than he is in Winnipeg.

A second-round pick and a lower level prospect could acquire Antropov.

Acquire Andrei Kostitsyn

MONTREAL, CANADA - APRIL 26: Andrei Kostitsyn #46 of the Montreal Canadiens waits for a faceoff in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Boston Bruins during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on April 26, 2011 in

Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images

Although Andrei Kostitsyn has a lot of talent, he hasn't been able to develop as the Montreal Canadiens had hoped he would.

A change of scenery could benefit him greatly, and the Penguins would surround him with a talented roster of players.

A third-round pick—and possibly a veteran—should be enough to entice the Canadiens into trading Kostitsyn.

Acquire Alex Tanguay

GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 10: Alex Tanguay #40 of the Calgary Flames skates with the puck during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on March 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Flames 3-0. (Photo by Christian Pe

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Alex Tanguay is a veteran with Stanley Cup experience—which is exactly what the Penguins need, because they will make the playoffs this season.

Tanguay is also a good offensive player and will provide leadership on the Penguins.

The Calgary Flames should start rebuilding their team; it's inevitable that they will, so cashing in on Tanguay's value with draft picks would be a good move for them.

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