The Pittsburgh Penguins won back-to-back titles with almost the same lineup – a rarity in the salary cap era.
If they pull off a three-peat, we can legitimately talk of a Pittsburgh Penguins Dynasty, since next year’s lineup will be different. With a summer of change unfolding, here are some observations looking back and looking ahead.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pipe Change – Fleury Will Be Missed
He is replaceable in between the pipes. In fact, I have written in the past that I believe Matt Murray is a better fit for this Pens team. But there is no denying the class and sportsmanship that this rare athlete brought to the Pens.
His affection for the game, his teammates, and the city of fans that chanted his name was on display for all to see. Never more so than the last few weeks. He left a legacy playground behind. He held a special autograph session for fans one last time.
Most touching, he penned a thoughtful, emotional goodbye memoir in the Player’s Tribune. of sorts. If that one doesn’t draw a tear, you are not human. It’s a raw deal, and yet it’s life and sports, and everyone knows it.
Just Keep Winning, Winning, Winning
One thing the Pens don’t want to change is their winning ways. Perhaps excluding Mike Sullivan from Jack Adams consideration was like excluding Evgeni Malkin from the Top 100 NHL Players list. Not everyone likes a winner. The good news is that these Pens don’t care about accolades as much as they care about winning. And win they do – sometimes against a stacked deck. That says volumes about the Pens leadership – top to bottom.
Change is the Mark of a Dynasty
Mario Lemieux said that in order to be a dynasty, a team has to win four or five titles in a row. However, in a salary cap league, for a single team to even win twice is no small feat. Teams no longer get the luxury of keeping the same players for years. That is one of the main reasons why it’s hard to keep winning.
If the Pens do manage to win their third cup in a row next year, Dynasty or not, only a superior organization can pull that off. They won’t have the same lineup, and they don’t have a backlog of high draft pick players either. Nevertheless, from the minor league and scouting organizations, to the front office and ownership, the Penguins are built to win. And win continuously. It looks like a well-oiled machine right now, and adding another cup with a revamped line-up would underscore that tremendously.
Take a Breath – and Bring it on
The echos of the parade have barely faded, but we already look forward to next season. It’s a good time to be a Pittsburgh Penguins fan.