If Reality Crashes, How Will Reality Crash?

Looking at everything that is good, well, it seems obvious that if one of these things turns sour, then the team might, potentially, have trouble.

So in my imagination—balancing out the ridiculously positive sunny side daydreaming of Stanley Cups and taking aim at the NHL record books—I have also pondered what might prevent the Pens from fulfilling their potential—either to get to the postseason or to win come playoff time.

Injuries to Key Players: Like it or not, injuries are a part of any sport. This year, the Penguins have been fortunate in terms of key injuries. The three main cogs—Fleury, Crosby, and Malkin—have not been lost for significant amounts of time. If and when injuries to key players occur, the Penguins, as presently constructed, do not yet appear to have the depth to compensate for what might happen if Malkin or Crosby or Fleury are lost for any significant amount of time.

(Please remember that the Pens played two series in 1991 without Paul Coffey and had to rely on other players stepping in for an injured Mario Lemieux to defeat the Rangers in 1992.)


The X-Factor of Youth and Inexperience: Most of the Pens’ players have played on winning teams throughout youth and junior hockey. But the NHL playoffs are a different story, and with every game currently a jostle for positioning just to earn a place in the postseason, points are precious. No one yet knows how Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Fleury, and the rest of the kids on the roster will respond to increased pressure—meaning tighter checking, more prepared game plans, etc. Do the kids actually need time to learn how to win before they win? Or can they learn how to win as they win games?

The Opposition and Videotape: Let’s be real. NHL teams can study videotape. They can look at things that work. Granted, against healthy superstars, there is not always a whole lot that does work (legally) to stop such superstars. And yet, still, an eighteen-year-old rookie in Staal (granted, a special rookie) was able to break up a pass between two 600 NHL goal scorers because he’d watched videotape of the New York Rangers power play. When it comes to videotape, what happens when opponents aim for rebounds at Marc Andre Fleury in a specific way? What happens when opponents start to exploit the fact that Staal, for as strong as he is, is not yet as strong as he one day will be? What happens when other coaches find a way to use their roster to stop, or if not to stop completely, to make sure the Penguins don’t score as prolifically as they are accustomed to doing? Will the Pens’ coaches be able to respond, and will the players learn to make adjustments on their own? Will the players know how to adjust to changed tactics—and if they don’t know how to react, will they learn how to react?

Cold Streaks and Bounces: One reason the team has been hot lately is because, well, much of the team has been hot. Specifically, at least one star a game has put on a show that befits a star. What happens when a cold streak hits two or more players at the same time? What happens when Jordan Staal’s shooting percentage dips beneath the obscenely high 28% at which it currently stands? What happens when players hit posts instead of the net, or when Fleury might lose his game for a period or bounces go against the Penguins? What happens when the bounces don’t go their way, and players who were on the "hot" fantasy lists suddenly appear on the "cold" fantasy lists?

These are just some things I’ve considered when it comes to reasons why the Penguins could (I surely hope not) fail to qualify for the postseason or be "one and done" come playoff time. Being realistic, is the team currently equipped to deal with long-term injuries to a star player? Even if the team remains fortunate injury-wise, what about the other things that happen as part of the course of a season?

None of this is to say that I believe the Pens will fail to qualify for the postseason or fail to make noise in the postseason come playoff time. It is to say that in addition to fantasies about the team winning the Cup and/or breaking NHL records before anyone thought possible, that perhaps fans like me should temper those daydreams, which may no longer be delusional, with a dose of harsh reality.
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