Teams—not Individuals—Win Stanley Cups

“This is not All-Star.   You do not pick individual players.   This is team sport.”   -Jaromir Jagr, 2013

 "The game has changed. That’s the first thing. The game has change so there is not much difference between the best player and the worst player on the ice. The fourth line can play easily against the first line. I don’t think it’s the same as 20 years ago. Coaches could look for the matches – put the first line against the fourth line – and there’s a chance you could score. The game has changed a lot. There’s a lot of good players. Very close." -Jaromir Jagr, 2013

Translation:   Expecting an All-Star, or even a group of All-Stars, to win a playoff series on talent alone will not work in the modern NHL.   There's less of a difference between fourth line and first line talent than there once was.  A physical fourth liner can overpower a smaller, skilled first liner.  Teams are closer than they used to be.  Parity rules in the salary-cap driven NHL.    

Takeaway:   All-Stars need to play within a structured, team system.   All-Stars also need support from other players.  You can't expect a team of All-Stars to win a series just because they're All-Stars.  It's not enough to be talented in the current NHL.  

Action Item:  Pittsburgh's All-Star talents need help from teammates.  All Pittsburgh players must be willing to do the dirty work.  All Pittsburgh All-Stars must buy into the team system—whatever the team system is—and play to their talents within a system designed to maximize their talents.   The Penguins need to make sure their best players are on lines or defensive pairings with appropriate personnel.  The Penguins also need to make sure their stars are playing within a team system that brings out the best in their talents—and that their stars aren’t going “outside” the system in the hopes of creating something from nothing.