Penguins 2008: The Finals and The Future

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ season came to a close last Wednesday night, in an exciting battle with the Red Wings. The Penguins came up just short in a hard-fought series, the first Stanley Cup Finals for most of the roster.

The Finals

That photo was taken at the the last Penguins game I attended this season. Unfortunately, the season recently came to a bitter end.

This is the first time since the loss that I have been able to consider the end of the series with any sense of rationality. I cheered my heart out just like every other fan in Pittsburgh throughout the entire playoffs. The city believed that a miracle could happen and the Pens could send the series to a seventh game. When that did not come to pass, of course everyone was devastated. I was unable to talk about the game for days.

However after time to reflect and consider what the Penguins accomplished this year, my attitude has changed dramatically. For a team that was bounced in the first round last year to turn around and make it all the way to the Finals should be remembered as a positive year, not a year of failure. This Penguins team had an amazing regular season, nearly capturing the number one spot on top of the Eastern Conference. They rolled through all playoff opponents leading up to the Finals with very little trouble.

There was a lot of maturation in the team in terms of playing as a unit and their individual skill. The most prominent example of this is Evgeni Malkin. I know there are some who will immediately call out his “disappearance” in the Finals, but the truth is that for the entire season and three rounds of playoff hockey he was playing like an MVP. Plus reports have come out of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Malkin was ill and injured during the series with Detroit. He took his game to another level, and I cannot wait to see what he brings in the future.

Fleury was another player who took another huge step forward as a player. After the spectacular run by Ty Conklin, Fleury took his job back with force. There was no doubt that he was spurred forward by Conklin’s play, which led him to becoming one of the best goalies in the playoffs. Pens fans have to be encouraged about the progress made by Fleury this season. I personally felt like most of the goals against him in against the Red Wings were primarily the fault of the defense. Look no further than his game five performance to see what a truly special player he was (and will be) for the Penguins.

The Future

Of course the big story now is who the Penguins will be able to keep from this collection of superb talent. There are several players who the Penguins will not be able to keep. The big three free agents to concern yourself with are Marian Hossa, Ryan Malone, and Brooks Orpik. Of those three, I actually think Hossa is most likely to stay. He has been quoted as saying he would not mind taking less money to play for a contender (possibly the Penguins). Of course there is still a possibility that he will leave. Of these three he is the player I think the Pens need the least.

Brooks Orpik mostly will not be returning to the Penguins next season. This is going to hurt a lot, because he was the biggest bruiser on the team. His run of consecutive hits on Detroit players will always be one of my favorite memories of this team’s run. Orpik really made a name for himself during these playoffs, which is why he is going to command serious money on the free-agent market. It is unlikely that Pittsburgh is going to be able to pay him what he could get elsewhere.

This brings me to my most wanted free agent this year, Ryan Malone. Ryan Malone is a homegrown Pittsburgh boy, and his father played for the Penguins as well. He is simply a force of utter manliness on the ice, and his 27 goals and 24 assists this season show you how he can play. When he got hit in the face with a puck (on a broken nose no less), he returned to the ice the next period. I want him to play for the Pittsburgh Penguins next season, and I hope the team feels the same way.

Penguins fans, keep your heads held high. We had a great season, and will continue to have a great team for many years to come. What are your thoughts on the Finals and the Future of the Penguins?