Pittsburgh Penguins 2014-15: Be Careful What You Wish For

My mother always told me to be careful what I wished for….

And while I’m quoting my favorite people, some cool Springsteen lyrics also read: “Don't you know before you choose your wish son you'd better think first
'Cause with every wish there comes a curse"
                        -Bruce Springsteen, “With Every Wish”                 

 

So just remember Pittsburgh sports fans as this Penguin season unfolds…

You…….asked……..for …. it.

 

“Who are these guys?”

“I can’t name 5 players.”

“We’re rebuilding.”

“This is going to be a down year.”

These are all things I’ve heard lately as the season approaches.

This from the same people who were up in arms last year (and rightfully so..) after the Penguins were eliminated after another lackluster playoff performance.

“No more country club hockey!!!”

“We’re soft!”

“Bylsma sucks. He can’t adjust.”

“Get rid of some of these prima donna high priced bums.”

As you wish……….

 

Last night the Los Angeles Kings raised their Stanley Cup banner…..for the SECOND time in three years……No flash….no president’s trophies for best record….no high profile players bigger than the game…..and EACH time they came into the playoffs at the bottom half of the playoff standings and fought their way to championships or close…..

I bring this up because I am POSITIVE that as soon as the Pens are hanging around in 2^nd or 3^rd place in January and February and losing some games to the Islanders and Hurricanes at home that people around here will be livid and asking for the heads of the coach and the GM.

When in all reality they got exactly what they wished for…..

Let the team gel and find it’s comfort level around Sid and Geno.  Shut your mouth and watch them grow together so that in April they are ready to go and fight for a championship.

Many of you are too young to remember the Lemieux Cup years. Well let me do the research for you. The two years we WON the Cup back to back in 1991 and 92 we were 3^rd and 4^th in the division……and in 1993 when we had probably the best Penguin team EVER….we lost to the hard working over achieving New York Islanders……..

I think the moral of the story is obvious.  It’s what I hate about hockey and I made that all too clear on social media last spring (sorry…..).  Talent and skill is not the top priority in the NHL playoffs....but that is the reality of the situation, and the Pens have dealt with it……and if history is an indication it is the way to go…ask the Pens of the 90’s…and the Kings of today…..

So please…..when it’s 10 below and the Pens are playing on a Wednesday night in February and they come out flat and lose to the Florida Panthers in front of a sellout crowd….get your hand OFF of the keyboard…and just shut your virtual pie holes and wait for April, May…..AND June…..

Sid is going to take this TEAM to the top. Write it down. When it counts WE will be the team overachieving……you asked for it…..and you will get it.

I’ll see you next Fall at the Consol when the Pens raise their 4^th banner on Opening Night…. Let someone else have the President’s trophy.  Fans in some other city are wishing for that…..they can have it….and the curse that goes with it.

We are taking the Silver.

Don’t get to comfortable Elvis………..Let’s Go Pens!!!!