Reality came crashing down on the Pittsburgh Penguins last night, when the 1-in-8 chance to get the first overall pick ended up being the 7-in-8 higher chance of not getting the top pick. It was a fitting end to a disappointing 2019-20 season.
You probably don’t need a reminder, but ever since being at the top of the mountain for the NHL’s only back-to-back Stanley Cups in the salary cap era in 2016 and 2017, it’s been nothing but a sharp downhill descent for the Pens. There was a second round loss to Washington in 2016 in a close, hard-fought series.