Shorter Aside


Seriously now, I have already begun to do some daydreaming about all things that could go right for my Penguins in, let’s say, four or five years.

So let’s say Marc Andre Fleury develops into a "money goalie" who’s going to command an obscene salary because he’s finally proven he’s a money goalie in the big games that win Cups.

Let’s say two of our defensive prospects turn into all-star caliber defensemen. Maybe one of them develops into at least a contender for the Norris Trophy.

Let’s say Crosby is recognized as the best player in the world and commands the league maximum salary because, well, he’s the best player in the world. Let’s say that in the Hockey News’ list of top 50 NHL players, Mal kin and Staal are ranked somewhere on that list, let’s say one is ranked really close to Crosby at the top.

Granted, this whole scenario is predicated upon everything going right for the Penguins—no injuries that impede development, no players who were projected to be stars but turn out to be pluggers, etc—

But if you look at the lineup and you know the NHL CBA, choices are going to have to be made. Which player do we have to keep to continue to maintain a contender? Which player do we sadly have to say the old, we love you, you’re great, but this is what we have to do?

At this point in 2006, I’ve seen enough hockey to know not to assume that every one of the Penguins blue-chip prospects will develop into what they are pro jected t o be. I know it took Markus Naslund eight years to bloom and that happened not in Pittsburgh but in western Canada. I know Aleksey Morozov never turned into what he was supposed to be. I know Jaromir Jagr turned into what he was supposed to be on the ice and lost his mind briefly (though I do sincerely wish that Jagr’s regained his mind, as his play with the Rangers this past season hopefully attests). So I’m envisaging a scenario when everything goes right and we have the pleasure of watchi ng the tee nagers we drafted grow into stars that set records, win a wards, and contend for the Stanley Cup year after year.

I’m already wondering what happens if and when our current teenagers and youngsters ever become stars. Because tough choices will have to be made. The team will have to be replenished and revitalized by still younger players, which might entail trading away stars for players who will can help both in the now of 2012 and later of 2016. At the present moment, it’s all just "future food for thought" in the middle of a long, lazy summer.

It seems the best thing to do is root for the current 2006 Pens youngsters to become stars, harass the people who need to be harassed so that a new arena gets built in Pi ttsburgh so Pittsburgh fans can actually have the chance to watch these kids become stars who star on home ice, and then hope for and appreciate the stardom when it comes.

Yet even as I whine about another upcoming rebuilding year and a core roster that at the present moment seems light years away from making the playoffs, let alone contending for the Cup—watch out. The future arrives sooner than we think.’’