The Crystal Ball Let's Go Penguins

My original idea for this column was very different. Feeling my oats after watching the Pens demolish team after team in the Eastern Conference, I felt the same type of elation I did in 1992 when the Pens captured their second Stanley Cup. With this vibe running through me, I figured I would do a comparison between the 92 and 08 teams, with the one uniting thread being they both walked away with the Cup. But after the first two games of the series, I knew that was not to be. Not that I gave up hope, but watching their performance I knew they were not quite there; not quite ready to overcome and defeat a Cup seasoned team. It did not take the sting away, but helped prep me for the inevitable conclusion.

So for another season, I quietly adjourned to my bathroom to grab my clippers and shed myself of my symbolic playoff beard; grown in support and conjunction with the fierce competitors that don the Penguin sweater. And I have put away my Lemieux jersey, hanging it neatly in my closet next to my Steelers and Pirates jerseys. But this year, it was much more painful and poignant than before.

They had no more miracles, no more luck and no more magic. The Igloo, home to so many triumphs, held no more mystiques in its aging but hallowed halls. Despite their best efforts, the unstoppable force of the Red Wings was just that, unstoppable.

Like all Penguin fans, I hated to see a Finals loss. It was nothing I had ever seen from our Penguins. And I loved this team. They really did put forth something special. But I do not find myself mad or upset. They were young, and at times it showed. But they gave everything they had and it produced a magical run that started last season. And while it may not have produced a Cup, it ultimately helped keep the team in the Burgh long term. If the team had not been as successful, would the stadium deal have gotten done? Would the team be around? Would they be packing for KC right now? Who knows? But I know one thing, now having a resurgent, and financially stable, team certainly helped.

It also helped bring a city together. Pittsburgh is a great city for supporting its sports teams, in good times and bad. No matter what, the fans are always behind their teams. If you doubt that, look at the support the unfortunately long woeful Pirates receive from the fan base. But when the times are oh so good, the way the fans rally rivals any other fan base. Wednesday night, when they handed out the playoffs MVP trophy after the game, the fans chanted Fleury. It’s no wonder either. Pittsburgh, and all hockey fans, got to watch the magic of Flower bloom before our eyes. Oh, and what a beautiful bloom it was. He stood tall before the onslaught of Red Wings and never backed down, no matter the odds.

Crosby showed the world the future of the NHL. And from what the numbers are showing, people want more than a taste of that dish; they want much more. They want to see this young, exciting team led by their uber talented captain for years to come. I’m sure the team would be happy to oblige that.

The entire team showed so much heart, spirit and grit, from the 1st line to the 4th. They found out early that they were in uncharted waters against a foe far stronger, deeper and deadlier than any they had faced before. But they never backed down, they never shied away, they never got scared, or ran for cover. They stood up in the face of the red storm and poured their hearts, souls and bodies into taking on the giant. In the end, David had no stones left for his slingshot.

This may seem odd, but I think this actually may be good for this team in the long term. Sure, knowing the sting of losing the finals will be a motivational tool for all involved. And yes, the experience will show them what they really need to do to win it all. But more importantly, it might keep them intact.

The team is ripe with lots of free agents. If the Pens had won it all, many of them might have hit the road looking for the proverbial fat payday. But the loss might motivate more than a few to stick around, at a discount, because they know this group has not peaked, there is much more they can do and there is a bunch of unfinished business left on the table. First and foremost is that none of them were able to drink the winning draught from the Cup. It might influence a few who would have run out looking to get paid to stick around and see what might happen. If there is something good about losing the Cup finals, that may be the only thing. Of course, only if it does happen. Only the summer will tell.

Malone, Hossa and Orpik might be gone. The team should, which seems a no brainer, make sure they get Fleury, Staal and Malkin under long term contracts. Fleury, well duh we’ve all seen why. Staal, we have yet to see how much this young man can produce. And Malkin, it should be obvious. Sure, he didn’t have the best finals, but chalk that up to injury and illness as we all learned about after the fact. Credit this young man the cajones for even attempting to play in the biggest games of his life while battling the flu. And something tells me that fire we saw all season was just muted, and it will rage once again. I’d love to see Malone back again; he’s a true Burgh guy. But you cannot have everyone.

But it’s too early to think of such things. The last loss is still too fresh. For now, I’ll leave the fears, worries and hopes of who will come back and the hopes, wishes and dreams of what is to come in future seasons for another day. For now, I just want to say thank you Penguins for a magical run. Thank you for making us all believe in the magic of Penguins hockey, and a true team again. Thank you for making hockey relevant in the Burgh again. Thank you for lighting the fires of interest amongst the casual sports fans in the great sport of hockey and the NHL. And most of all thank you for being the Pittsburgh Penguins, and showing everyone a true team filled with spirit, heart and soul. Next year I hope to be writing again at this time of year. But I hope to be shaving my symbolic playoff beard as I think about how sweet it must be to hoist that Cup. And then perhaps I’ll have to put away my Fleury jersey for another season.