As promised, here is part 2 of the monthly Pittsburgh Penguins mailbag.
There are plenty of topics to discuss which, given the time of year, isn’t all that surprising.
Happy hockey season, everyone. Away we go.
GO DEEPER
Penguins mailbag: McGroarty, Crosby’s linemates and can’t-miss games
Note: Submitted questions may be edited for clarity and style.
A lot of people don’t have the Penguins making the playoffs. I do. I actually think they look a lot harder to play against this year. What say you? — @lowkeyfiretweet
I appreciate your optimism and I appreciate the question.
You’re right. Most publications will predict the Penguins to miss the postseason for a third consecutive season. They didn’t get much better on paper during the summer, the big guys are another year older, and the organizational trajectory doesn’t appear good.
But if you’re looking for optimism, there remain plenty of reasons to think the Penguins can compete for a playoff spot. Let’s dust off the bullet points from a summer slumber:
• Sidney Crosby is very much aging like fine wine.
• The laws of physics, history and common sense all say the power play can’t be any worse, which means it figures to be better.
• I feel like Erik Karlsson is about to showcase an entirely different gear.
• I don’t know how good the bottom six is, but I do know Mike Sullivan has never had more quantity at his offering.
• Sure, there are goaltending questions, but the Penguins do have a couple of talented people in Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic, to say nothing of the young players behind them.
• Rutger McGroarty possesses the potential to make an immediate impact.
• Do the Red Wings, Islanders, Capitals, Flyers, Blue Jackets, Sabres, Canadiens or Senators scare you? For the Penguins to miss the playoffs, at least one of those teams must qualify.
Sure, the odds are probably against the Penguins making the postseason. I wouldn’t bet on it. But I could certainly see a path there, should the goaltending sort itself out and the big names stay reasonably healthy.
Any chance Sid ever gets asked to be commissioner after Gary steps down? Who would better represent the sport? — @LetangCult
Well, you’re right when you say nobody better represents the sport. But I promise you he wouldn’t be interested in that kind of position.
That said, seeing Commissioner Crosby award the Stanley Cup to a random Western Conference team on Philadelphia ice would be hilarious.
Do you think Sid goes into ownership someday like Mario Lemieux, front-office work like Steve Yzerman or retires off to Nova Scotia to coach youth hockey? — @CGibson724
I think any of the three is completely possible.
He once suggested to me that he would never be interested in coaching. I wonder, though, if he might be interested in being a general manager someday. I could see it.
Do you think Sid would have been more apt to leave the Pens in search of more Cups for his legacy had he not won those two in ’16 and ’17 and only had the ’09 Cup to his name? — @slapmesillysid
Great question. The more I think about it, though, I think he would have been even less likely to leave if that were the case. I just don’t see him as the type who would ever chase a Stanley Cup in that manner.
His legacy is so safe and he’s won so many championships that I imagine, hypothetically, he’d be more open to the idea of leaving someday. However, that’s just not going to happen. I can’t emphasize that enough. He’s just never going anywhere else.
Is MAF the most overrated Pittsburgh athlete of all time? — @_JeffBebe
No, hardly. I think most Pittsburghers acknowledge Marc-Andre Fleury for what he was while with the Penguins. He was remarkably durable; one of the best regular-season goalies ever. He guided the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Final in 2008 and made one of the greatest saves in NHL history to complete the 2009 championship. He played an unforgettable role in the 2017 championship run. He got his name on the Cup in 2016. And, yes, he absolutely bombed in the 2010, 2012 and 2013 postseasons.
That’s all part of his legacy. You didn’t always trust him. His body language could be so vulnerable that you felt like you were watching your child out there, not a millionaire athlete. But in reflection, he was brilliant during his time in Pittsburgh and will rightfully assume his place in the Hockey Hall of Fame in a few years. Even all-time great goalies have a few playoff meltdowns.
One thing we don’t mention enough: He’s a real star. Goalies aren’t usually entertaining. The Flower is a throwback in that regard. He keeps you entertained all game.
Marc-Andre Fleury celebrates his 2017 Stanley Cup win with the Penguins. (Frederick Breedon / Getty Images)
I saw a younger Pittsburgher who is a colleague of yours say that as far as Pittsburgh rookies go in her life who were elite immediately, it’s Skenes and 87. She wasn’t alive for 66. Who would YOU add to this? 71? 66, of course. Bonds wasn’t Bonds until 90. Ben? — @itsspelledgraig
Paul Skenes is definitely unique in that he was the best pitcher in baseball the very moment he stepped onto the mound at PNC Park in May. He’s a treasure.
Mario and Sid immediately come to mind and, of course, they were 18, which can’t be ignored. Evgeni Malkin at 20 was a sensation, scoring a goal in each of his first six games and never looking back. Ben Roethlisberger was Ben from the very beginning, no question. And yes, Bonds needed a handful of years to become a superstar. Same with Jaromir Jagr.
It’s only one year, but that we’re putting Skenes in that kind of company tells you how special he is.
Of my lifetime, I’d say for top rookies I’ve witnessed (I’m excluding Mario because I was 4 when he was a rookie and, thus, not very adept at analyzing sports just yet):
1. Sid
2. Skenes
3. Ben
4. Geno
Do you have a favorite memory of Johnny Gaudreau? — @akconley
I only interviewed him twice and found him to be extremely friendly and generous with his time on both occasions. My best memory isn’t from a chat with him, but a chat about him.
I was talking with Matt Murray after a loss to Gaudreau’s Calgary Flames.
“That damn Gaudreau always goes short side,” Murray said. “He’s so smart. You think I’d remember by now. You think you have him figured out, and he’ll fool you every time.”
What matters is that two young people tragically lost their lives. But secondarily, the world lost a very entertaining hockey player.
When’s training camp start? And when’s it open to the public? Want to take my kid there. — @jeffh6730
It begins on Wednesday at the Lemieux Sports Complex and runs every morning starting at 9 a.m. It usually concludes around 1 p.m. Practices are always open to the public. If you’re hungry while there, the food is really good, by the way. (Chicken Caesar wrap is my go-to. They’ve got peanut butter and jelly for the kid, t00. And yes, somewhere a Canadian read this in horror because you can’t get peanut butter and jelly anywhere publicly in Canada. They’re way more strict about peanut allergies.)
Have you ever had a moment like when Derek Shelton snapped back at the reporter who asked a legit question about why he has a first baseman pitching so much? Would you have doubled down and pressed the coach some more? — @tankk25
Yeah, not a good look for Shelton at all. I’ve been snapped on many times by players, though I don’t recall a coach ever responding like that. The worst thing about those moments is knowing a camera is on and that it will be immortalized.
You can easily conclude when Mike Sullivan is angry with a question because he’ll respond with a one-word answer or say “I’m afraid I don’t understand your question.”
But he’s a classy guy and doesn’t go out of his way to embarrass people.
I don’t think I’ve seen you mention anything about upcoming concerts. What is your favorite show that you’ve seen within the past year or two? — @realJasonstru
It’s been too long. Haven’t been to one in months. Saw Third Eye Blind and The Killers last year. They were both really good. Saw the Stones in 2021, and they were tremendous.
Josh – what sports did you play as a kid (and position), and was there a sport that you look back on and think you could have excelled in but you never gave it a chance? — @kobyalex17
I should have played football. I’m built just like a fullback. But I did play baseball and was pretty good. Played a lot of third base.
I tried playing hockey and I could skate forward very fast. To this day, skating backward remains an incredible mystery to me. No idea how it’s done.
Josh, I’ll be a first-time dad come Groundhog’s Day. Any advice? — @patdoc38
Thank you for not asking for marriage advice, which is not my specialty.
Do all the work during the first few months. Seriously. Don’t let mom do anything but sleep and care for the baby, because she’s going to be exhausted. I wasn’t good enough about this and it makes a difference.
Otherwise, use common sense. And let the kid grow up to be who he or she wants to be. Otherwise, resentment is inevitable. My 12-year-old wants nothing to do with hockey, and you know what? That’s his choice. And he’s perfect. My 10-year-old is obsessed with hockey and a really good player. And you know what? That’s his choice. And he’s perfect.
Thanks for reading, everyone. Tons of training camp coverage from Rob Rossi, myself and the rest of The Athletic crew is on the way. Let the games begin.
(Top photo of Tristan Jarry and Sidney Crosby: Charles LeClaire / USA Today)
