“We could have clubs for the next eight or nine years like this.”
Venerable Eddie Johnston, then the Penguins’ senior advisor, uttered those words shortly after the team won the Stanley Cup back in 2009. How prophetic he was.
However, for the longest time—through an unending string of playoff disappointments—it seemed the promise of those days would go unfulfilled. In hindsight, the players had some growing to do.
I’m happy to say, the maturation process is complete. Thanks to an incredible team effort, the Pens captured their second Stanley Cup in a row, and third in nine seasons, with a riveting 2-0 victory over the game but outgunned Nashville Predators in Game Six of the Stanley Cup Final.