Sidney Crosby pulls unbelievably classy move to help out division rival team during the offseason!

Sidney Crosby just loves the game of hockey and often wants to do what’s best for his team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, but also for former employees and staff members he had the chance to work with.

That’s what happened this offseason when equipment trainer Paul DeFazio had great references to land a job with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Among them was Crosby who, according to Jackets insider Aaron Portzline, called the organization to suggest hiring DeFazio.

Crosby knows Rick Nash well from their time with Team Canada and let’s just say his reference held a lot of power.

DeFazio had been with the Penguins since way back in 2011, and has now taken on a role with the Jackets. When head coach Mike Sullivan and the Penguins parted ways, it was not made known that DeFazio had been let go as well. And so the move has shocked quite a few fans in Pittsburgh, though Crosby’s class isn’t surprising to anyone.

DeFazio had worked in various capacities with the Penguins organization between Pittsburgh and Wilkes/Barre-Scranton since the 2011 campaign, serving as either the Head or Assistant Equipment Manager throughout that time.

While equipment managers don’t always get the appreciation they deserve, DeFazio definitely got the love from the Penguins’ players and captain so much so that Crosby felt the need to share his appreciate for DeFazio’s work, even if it meant seeing him getting hired by a Metropolitan division rival.