CHICAGO - Sidney Crosby didn’t ask for protection - but somebody did.
Maybe his agent, Pat Brisson, pushed for it. Maybe owner Mario Lemieux insisted things change. Maybe the coaching staff of the Pittsburgh Penguins demanded it.
Whatever the case, when the Stanley Cup champions acquired hulking winger Ryan Reaves, son of a Hall of Fame football player, on Friday night at the NHL Draft, it was a declarative move by the Penguins. And it didn’t have a lot to do with the seven goals Reaves scored this past season in St. Louis.
On the surface, acquiring Reaves for a first round draft pick seemed a huge overpay for the back to back champs.