They’ve Been Lucky In Pittsburgh
from Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
Matthews, McDavid and Draisaitl are fabulous players.
The reason we’re so lucky is because Malkin and Crosby have been able to use their terrific individual success to lift the Penguins to the highest of heights.
Do you realize Matthews and Marner have been in the NHL since that 2016-17 season and that Toronto has yet to win a playoff series with them? It won’t be favored to win one this spring, either, because of ongoing goaltending issues.
Do you realize Draisaitl and McDavid have been in the league since 2015-16 and that Edmonton has won just one postseason series with them? The Oilers missed the playoffs in three of their six seasons and are no lock to make it this spring.
Crosby and Malkin have been much more successful, much more quickly....
The point of this isn’t to diminish the accomplishments of Matthews, McDavid and Draisaitl. They likely will join Crosby and Malkin in the Hall one day. It’s not as if they don’t have a chance to still lead their team to postseason success. The Penguins didn’t make the playoffs until Mario Lemieux’s fifth season in 1988-89 and didn’t win the first of two consecutive Cups until his seventh season in 1990-91.
All I’m saying is there is no guarantees for Matthews, McDavid and Draisaitl despite their individual brilliance. They still have a long, long way to go to match Crosby and Malkin.
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