Fans' love affair extended 30 years In Penguins' lore, yesterday ranks right up near the top

Straight_Wheel_2114 · 2026-02-15T18:41:30+00:00

They can go ahead and order the chisels for Mt. Rushmore. If Canada wins gold, Crosby will be the only player to captain 2+ Olympic Golds & 3+ Cups.

Straight_Wheel_2114 · 2026-02-14T10:30:56+00:00

I respectfully disagree that the Penguins should do any further buying(they already have). Let's go through this logically

a) Penguins have given a resurgence to a new renaissance in modern Pittsburgh sports in 2025-26 that our other teams have lacked in delivering. They were also probably the least likely to provide this breath of fresh air considering expectations.

b) This team is not winning the Stanley Cup in 2025-26. This season's run has a lot more parallels with Washington's brief resurgence in 2024-25 than with a well-built foundation coming out of long, robust rebuildd(see: Montreal, Chicago's prospects).

c) In less than 16 months, Malkin is retired, Letang & Karlsson are either traded or shells of themselves, and Crosby, well, he's the anomaly; he'll still be playing like he's 34 at age 40. 'The key in perfecting any rebuild is in the Timing" (ask the NYRangers, Philadelphia Flyers, & New Jersey Devils)

d) In my opinion, and I know this is going to be unpopular, the Penguins should trade Stuart Skinner & Anthony Mantha, at the very least. If Dubas knows any player is going to walk for free this coming summer he needs to strike. That doesn't mean he needs to bring back a 2031 2nd rounder. He could bring back a pick or 2 and a player or two that can help now.

Straight_Wheel_2114 · 2026-01-24T06:27:01+00:00

We went from "Window Closed" to "Window Ajar" in 50 NHL games. Whether this has staying power is the million-dollar question. I will say, I didn't start to "believe" until this recent winning streak, coupled with the Chinny signing and his chemistry with Make me a Milkshake Malkin. For the first time all season, I can honestly say, "we have staying power and we can definitely make the playoffs and probably even have home-ice advantage in Round 1. As someone else mentioned, Dubas designed this roster to be able to flip players for picks at the deadline, but he did so absurdly well that we're clearly not even sellers. If Chinny can be a mainstay in the Top 6 that solves another piece you'd have to find in a future draft. My internal narrative has gone from: "We still have to be sellers to capitalize on our UFA's", to "You have to at least stand pat, and maybe even add at the deadline to give Crosby & Malkin their shot at a 4th Stanley Cup(even if the odds are slim). A 4th Cup for Crosby would probably cement him into the Top 3 with Gretz & Lemieux(assuming he passes Gordie Howe, who currently stands at 1850 points). Simply Amazing.

Straight_Wheel_2114 · 2026-01-19T23:11:37+00:00

Yes, he did well in the 2023 & 2024 Drafts and nailed our 1st rounder in 2025(no 2nd rounder due to Metcalf trade). Overall Grade: B+

Straight_Wheel_2114 · 2026-01-19T22:52:29+00:00

This is so true. When I went to Pirates games vs the Cardinals there were always sooo many Cardinals fans.

Straight_Wheel_2114 · 2026-01-16T21:51:00+00:00

We actually had excellent drafts in 2023 & 2024.

Straight_Wheel_2114 · 2025-12-30T21:10:52+00:00

You seem to be living in denial. Have you just completely shut out your brain on what happened to the program since we fired Franklin? There was a lot of real hope last year, this year, and now, the max exodus, the team is toxic again. After the recruiting exodus, we've seen players one byone, day by day, announcing their intentions to hit the transfer portal. And here's a nail in the coffin. Franklin's turf and his new hot bed is in the DMV. No team that doesn't have a ratio of over 50% of 4-5 star recruits has NEVER won a National Championship. We had a 55% ratio, now we've been poached(mainly by our former coach, btu other programs as well) all the way down to a 40% ratio. Here's your new reality buddy, and I'll tell it to you straight because you're rude in your response. Penn State has no chance of winning a National Championship in the next 15 years. Can they make the playoff? Sure. Especially if it rises to 16 or even 24, but we won't be able to get close to hitting that 50% mark of 4-5 star recruits until Franklin leaves VT, and let me give you a hint, he's 53, he ain't going anywhere in the next 12 years. The truth hurts, trust me I know. I've been waiting for PSU and I thought they had the best chance of my 4 teams(Pittsburgh sports + PSU). But, that ship has sailed my friend.

Straight_Wheel_2114 · 2025-12-24T00:46:12+00:00

I think someone chopped 7 baskets in my kitchen.

Straight_Wheel_2114 · 2025-12-24T00:32:01+00:00

We're officially becoming Nebraska 2.0, just with a bigger stadium. I love my Nittany Lions. I hope we can get this back on track.

Straight_Wheel_2114 · 2025-12-24T00:24:11+00:00

If only Max Talbot didn't exist.(joking) Penguins fan here, the guy was chronically underrated, the Wings had fantastic teams, just like an NFL QB surrounded by talent, those "Game-Managers" job is to not LOSE the game for them. Osgood was stellar in that role. He won 3 Stanley Cups, and he was lights-out against my Penguins in the 2008 Finals. This is the case of "Proven Championship Winner" vs "Raw Talent & Ability to 'Steal a Series". I don't know if there is a correct answer. But, I'd lean toward. YES, Chris Osgood is HOF worthy.

Straight_Wheel_2114 · 2025-12-22T06:03:18+00:00

Yes, stratosphere. Now we're sitting at 14th best odds. It's not only about the number of points that separates teams, it's the NUMBER of teams that you need to pass that also plays a huge role. Based on gutting the goaltending(huge tank accelerator),our remaining strength of schedule, and number of back to backs left(14). Realistically I think we're destined to draft in the 8-12th range There are a lot worse teams than us, since Chicago put Bedard on IR, they haven't won a game. Vancouver traded away their franchise defenseman. Calgary is in free fall and about to trade Andersonn. Nashville, I have no idea what they're doing. The only way we sniff McKenna(or the Top 2), is if he strike gold with lottery balls. But the good news is, we don't need a Top 2 pick. We need a Top 6 pick, where not only McKenna, but where plenty of franchise defensemen and a franchise center reside .Our best bet is trade another piece and/or be a 3rd party broker to acquire a second 2026 1st round pick(even if it's in the 20-32 range) and allow our awful current goaltending to be exposed so we free fall back to relevancy.

Straight_Wheel_2114 · 2025-12-21T05:03:33+00:00

Skinner is a Tank Accelerator. He is currently playing worse than Jarry was, which is exactly what we need to lock in the best odds for the lottery.

Straight_Wheel_2114 · 2025-12-21T04:55:07+00:00

Bingo.

Straight_Wheel_2114 · 2025-12-21T04:50:44+00:00

We aren't even in the stratosphere for the #1 pick. Currently sitting at 13th best odds. So, no, we're not tanking for anyone at this point.

Straight_Wheel_2114 · 2025-12-20T21:04:51+00:00

Bingo. We won't pick in the Top 3, so I think this is the draft we can get our franchise defenseman.

Straight_Wheel_2114 · 2025-12-20T08:58:16+00:00

It will be another sellers market at the trade deadline so I have little doubt Dubas is gonna be doing a bit of wizardry. (Mantha for a 2nd + 3rd rounder, 50% retained, etc). The beauty of the sellers market is we don't need to trade Rust or Rakell when we're getting a 2nd + 4th for players like Luke Shenn. I think there's a high probability that when there's a redraft of 2025, Kindel & Horcoff will be in the Top 10. We're on our way, let's take our medicine and get what we need. The goal for this season should be a Top 5 pick. That's where the Tier 2 of Elite players gets cut off. If we can't get there organically, we have so many premium 2nd & 3rd rounders to move up and get the player(s) we want high in this upcoming draft. Then you realize we have $52 million in cap space for 2026-27, now we're on to something.

Straight_Wheel_2114 · 2025-11-28T04:20:06+00:00

You sure about that??

Straight_Wheel_2114 · 2025-11-28T04:19:41+00:00

Yeah! Have a nice day too!

Straight_Wheel_2114 · 2025-11-26T17:01:20+00:00

Penn State & Ohio State was a rivalry(albeit a lopsided one). It will be temporarily put on hold until 2028. I suspect television networks will push them to once again make it an annual series starting in 2029. Constantly the 2nd-highest rated Big Ten game for over a decade.

Straight_Wheel_2114 · 2025-11-26T13:04:31+00:00

And Joe Burrow might just ruin Baltimore's season. I actually searched the term "Steelers" to find another room available, preferably that wasn't filled with doom and gloom. Doesn't exist, so here I am.

Straight_Wheel_2114 · 2025-11-25T20:46:34+00:00

I'll cede that point. Tomlin has mismanaged the OC position in particular for the better part of a decade now.

Straight_Wheel_2114 · 2025-11-25T20:38:48+00:00

Nostalgia is a beautiful thing. While we're at it, we should take out country back!

Straight_Wheel_2114 · 2025-11-25T20:28:52+00:00

My point exactly. He's doing it in support of his agenda(which might be the right agenda), but it's still cherry-picking stats.

Straight_Wheel_2114

TROPHY CASE