April 19th, 2007- The Pittsburgh Penguins get bounced from the first round of the Stanley Cup Play-offs by the Ottawa Senators. The hockey world only caught five games of what the future of the NHL and play-off hockey will look like. Or did it?
In the 2006-2007 season, Sydney Crosby, age 19, registered 36 goals and 120 points in his second NHL year. Evgeni Malkin, age 20, contributed 33 goals and 85 points in his rookie year. Jordan Staal, age 19, scored 29 goals and 42 points. Combined points: 247. Combined years on planet earth: 58. These three young men, along with the 22 year old, 40 game winner, Marc-Andre Flurry in goal, is a nucleus of amazing potential. If Crosby continues his trend and plays as many years as Gordie Howe, they are going to have to put a sign outside the new Pittsburgh arena, ala McDonalds, saying over 1 billion goalies served. And hes not the only one that can score. This is a cast of young gunslingers that folks in hockey-starved cities, like Boston and Chicago, would give up their limbs and first-borns for.
I am a huge fan of this team, and I am a Ranger fan. Were supposed to throw beer at our Mothers if they are seen in opposing team colors. The only thing I hate about this team is that they play in the same division as the Blueshirts. In this post-lockout era (Post-lockout is now a legit term. It may soon be used like the term pre-historic, or youre looking at a pre-war apartment or a post-op transvestite), I have only been able to make it to two Ranger games. Each game has been against the Pens. The first game was in Crosbys rookie season; the next was this past season. The improvement was not only significant, it was downright scary. Every time Crosby got the puck this past season, he didnt look like Wayne Gretzky or Mario Lemieux. He looked like Michael Jordon. The entire crowd at Madison Square Garden went silent when he broke to the net with the puck, half in awe of his moves, half in sheer terror of the outcome. He won that game, by the by, in the final shot of a shoot-out. His supporting cast was just as strong. Did I mention that they all need someone else on the team to make a beer run?
So, the future is bright for this team and for the league. Im sure all the fat cats and league officials in Toronto sit back after every goal and light cigars with Canadian dollar bills. Just wait. In a few years, this team will bebroken up.
The salary cap, the reason for no hockey for an entire season, will force the Penguins to give up some of this talent and exchange it for cheaper and less talented parts. Pittsburgh fans have every reason to daydream about this team becoming the next Edmonton Oilers-like dynasty or Montreal Canadians powerhouse for years and years. That will never happen. Sure, I can see this team winning the cup in a few seasons but putting together a string of Cup winning seasons? No way. Do you honestly think that when these players are offered buckets of money from Nashville, Atlanta, or the NY Rangers (I hope!!) they are going to turn it down for the sake of the Penguins? Though as noble as that would be, its not going to happen. Crosby will get his from the Pens, but the rest of the gang are going to be lured away. This is the cost of a hard salary cap. Breaking up dynasties, for the sake of an over-expanded league. The league needs the Penguins to stay together for years. They need this team to develop from a daydream to a reality. Pittsburgh, can you hear the words of the prophecy? Crosby, Staal, and Malkin have led the Pittsburgh Penguins to their third Stanley Cup in four years! Unfortunately, its going to sound more like this, And Jordon Staal hoists the cup over his head, in celebration of the Nashville Predators first ever Stanley Cup! Horrifying, isnt it? Dont worry, you wont see it. It will be broadcast on Versus.
Isaac Rathbone is a professional playwright, living in NYC. His plays have been produced in various venues through out New York City, as well as the rest of the country.