It certainly appears that on Monday night, Connor McDavid will finally secure his first Stanley Cup, joining the elite ranks of the greatest hockey players ever. Despite McDavid’s undeniable talent, the missing championship has been a glaring gap in his impressive resume. If or when Commissioner Gary Bettman presents McDavid with the coveted trophy, some Pittsburgh Penguins fans may not be pleased with the ensuing discussions.
While some might argue that McDavid was already among the greatest players, a championship solidifies a player’s legacy. Should the Florida Panthers blow their 3-0 series lead, the narrative on Tuesday will likely shift from their collapse to widespread praise for McDavid.
Many hockey commentators may start ranking McDavid ahead of Sidney Crosby in the all-time greats list. Crosby, after years of being somewhat underappreciated by the same community, has finally been acknowledged as one of the top five players ever. The top four—Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Bobby Orr, and Gordie Howe—are untouchable, but the fifth spot has been contested.
For years, Crosby has held that fifth spot, thanks to his three Stanley Cups and a career that could see him approach 2,000 points. This recognition is well deserved, as none of the top four were as dominant into their mid-30s as Crosby has been. However, McDavid has taken Crosby’s influence to new heights. Despite Crosby’s relentless two-way play and ability to dominate through sheer will, McDavid offers something different. After nine seasons, McDavid’s exceptional skating, creativity, and scoring prowess have allowed him to achieve feats once thought impossible, captivating a new generation and changing the game in unprecedented ways.
In evaluating that fifth spot, McDavid could soon lay claim to the greatest comeback in NHL history. Whether we agree or not, if Edmonton wins on Monday, expect to hear a lot of, “Crosby is an all-time great, but…”
Penguins Trade Options
It seems likely that Penguins president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas will have a relatively quiet offseason. With Dubas needing to balance current team needs with future planning, every move must address both objectives.
Dubas might make a bold move, but it won’t be as significant as his Erik Karlsson trade. He might acquire someone like Patrik Laine from Columbus or another undervalued talent, but it appears Dubas is now focused on the long term.
The reality is that the Penguins lack valuable, expendable trade assets. Dubas can’t completely overhaul the team, at least not this summer.
He may opt to be patient, possibly positioning himself to take advantage of opportunities next season. Signing Alex Nedeljkovic to a two-year contract could open up trade possibilities within the next year.
The key will be for Joel Blomqvist to prove he’s NHL-ready. He’ll be closely watched in the preseason, and given the likelihood of either Tristan Jarry or Nedeljkovic missing time due to injury next season, Dubas’s best-case scenario is for Jarry to start the season strong while Blomqvist excels in the AHL.
There aren’t enough quality goalies available this summer, leaving some teams in need. Despite criticism, Jarry has been a competent NHL goalie with a .912 career save percentage and is entering his prime years. Similar to how Marc-Andre Fleury found his stride later in his career, Jarry could also improve significantly.
Marcus Pettersson is likely the only other trade asset Dubas has, but trading him would create a need on the blue line, at least until Ryan Graves proves himself consistently.
Next summer could be very different, with prospects like Brayden Yager and Ville Koivunen developing and Blomqvist reaching maturity. The challenge remains to find creative solutions for the current issues. With six days until the NHL Draft and nine days until free agency, time is running short for making impactful changes.