#to win back Jagr ...

[icedbatik]

I'm sure this one took Mario by surprise ...

[annieqattheperipheral]

OK OK OKAYYY COME THRU matthew's disaster love life/ dream cgi holographic current stars & still alive alums matchup:

Matthew Tkachuk: I would think it'd be a lot of fun to go back in time and play with my dad. I think my brother and I would both want to play with him and throw him at centre. I don't know, that'd be a crazy line to play against so I think if I had to go back in time and play with one guy, it'd definitely be my dad. Wouldn't pass to him though.

Leon Draisaitl: Jaromir Jagr. Just always fascinated by the way he plays. Someone that I idolized growing up, loved the way he played.

Aleksander Barkov: Go back in time like three years [to 2017] and play with Jagr again.

And yes, there IS a third boyfriend team based off of this vid for the winning trio to go up against. But that's to be revealed once these results are in... aaah i want your voting reasons in the tags! It is your hrpf enthusiast civic duty. probably.

[mahkwebbah]

hockey asks! 5. favorite piece of hockey memorabilia you own; 10. favorite hockey siblings; 22. are you superstitious during the playoffs?; 23. create your own hockey awards what would the first award be and who would you give it to?; 26. if you were gm of your favorite team for a day what would you do?

5. favorite piece of hockey memorabilia you own;

The two bruins jerseys I bought while I was overseas. They’re hanging above my bed

10. favorite hockey siblings;

The Van Reimsdyks purely bc TVR hmu ye

22. are you superstitious during the playoffs?;

bruh this year the bruins won a game while I was at therapy and I tried to bake another appt days later to make sure they won.

23. create your own hockey awards what would the first award be and who would you give it to?;

the Young Jagr: for the player who served the most cunt in the season. Pasta and his starsign hat would win.

the statue would look like this

26. if you were gm of your favorite team for a day what would you do? make a law that don Sweeney isn’t even allowed to breathe near the bruins. and then get hallsy back.

Hockey asks

[professionallydeadinside]

#6 with guy and Jagre if you can :D

-Tostoa

6. blushing “why are you looking at me like that?”

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Jagre growled. Guy shook his head, having not realized that he had been staring. It’d felt like his eyes had just lingered for no longer than a second. 

The two men had found themselves on break at the same time and decided to relax in the bar with a drink and a game of chess. Guy had planned to leave twenty minutes earlier to retire to his quarters, but after winning three games in a row, Jagre had kept him for rematch after rematch. 

“My apologies Lieutenant, I didn’t mean for it to come off like I was staring with mal intent.” Jagre scoffed, his tail swishing as if he was irritated. However, the fur peeking out from his collar was sticking straight up, giving Guy the impression he was more flustered than angered. 

“Lieutenant Signe? Is something wrong?” 

“Nothing’s the matter besides the fact I’m going to break your hand if you win again.” 

Guy snorted but did nothing to stop himself as he moved his bishop into a position where Jagre’s king was completely vulnerable. Jagre hissed and slammed the table, only quieting his temper when Minye shot him a look. 

Wide pupils. Piloerection. Tail twitching. Something was still on Jagre’s mind despite him telling Guy otherwise. 

“Lieutenant Signe, are you sure nothing’s the matter? We can have another rematch if it would please you.” 

“No.” Jagre pouted and took a sip of his drink. Some type of sweet juice that Guy had stolen a taste of but couldn’t stand to drink more of. 

“It’s fine. I wouldn’t want to keep you any longer than I already have.” 

“Very well, I’ll be in my quarters if you need me.” Guy stood up from the metal chair, tensing his legs a bit as he did to get the blood flowing once more.

“And Lieutenant?” Jagre turned at the sound of Guy's voice, seeing him already in the doorway. 

“I was only staring because, as a Starfleet officer, I find it hard to look away from ethereality.” 

Guy didn’t stick around to see his reaction. But going off of both Libitina and Minye nearly pouncing on him the second he stepped back on the bridge, it seemed everything was going just fine.

[hauntedppgpaints]

Talk Hockey To Me

tagged by @captainbradmarchand, thank you beloved!

Tell me about:

The thing that got you hooked on hockey: i honestly think The Post is what got me started. Y'know. the jagr/gretzky makeout post that's a mile long at this point. i hyperfixated for a week, then let it go, then it came back to bite me in the ass this past june.

Your first ever fandom friend: @hard4softthings <3

The jersey you would most like to own: i would love to have the old black flyers jersey for giroux, or a penguins flower jersey, or a bruins rask jersey

YOUR player (you only get ONE so choose wisely): marc andre fleury <3

A pairing that deserves more fic: any goalie/goalie pairing tbh.

Your favorite on-ice moment: any time a player realizes someone on the opposing team is hurt and goes to help. tyler bertuzzi recently did this- realized someone was hit by the puck up high(?) and crouched down next to them to make sure they were okay. i also really, really love watching teams win their stanley cup. it doesn't matter the team, if your win was in color, i've probably watched you win it. the pure, unfiltered, unrestrained joy is infectious. the gloves and sticks flying up in the air, the skaters sprinting down the ice to pile onto their goalie- priceless. If I have to pick a single moment? Goalie Goals. mike smith specifically, since he got it with less than a second left in the game

THEN

link someone else's art/fic/etc that you love & think everyone should check out: too hard to pick a fave, so I'll pick a fic that has a criminally low amount of love from my bookmarks. The Zoo of Toronto by bellsastuff. Such an interesting idea, so well executed. Phil Kessel my most beloved.

AND

link something you made & are proud of & want people to see: my first attempt at writing smut! The Sweetest Taste!

tagging: anyone who'd like to give this a go!

[best1spor1player]

The Pittsburgh Penguins have had numerous players represent the team throughout their history. While it is not possible to list every player who has ever played for the Penguins, here are some notable players who have made significant contributions to the organization:

Mario Lemieux - Hall of Fame forward and one of the greatest players in NHL history. Lemieux played his entire career with the Penguins and is the team's all-time leading scorer. He won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins as both a player and an owner.

Sidney Crosby - Current captain of the Penguins and widely regarded as one of the best players in the NHL. Crosby has won three Stanley Cups with the team and has numerous individual accolades, including two Hart Trophies as league MVP.

Jaromir Jagr - Legendary forward who played for the Penguins from 1990 to 2001. Jagr was a key part of the team's back-to-back Stanley Cup wins in 1991 and 1992.

Evgeni Malkin - Russian forward who has been a dominant force for the Penguins since joining the team in 2006. Malkin has won three Stanley Cups with the Penguins and has won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

Ron Francis - Highly skilled center who played for the Penguins from 1991 to 1998. Francis was known for his playmaking abilities and leadership on and off the ice.

Paul Coffey - Offensive-minded defenseman who played for the Penguins from 1987 to 1992. Coffey was a key contributor to the team's Stanley Cup victories in 1991 and 1992.

Marc-Andre Fleury - Goaltender who played for the Penguins from 2003 to 2017. Fleury was instrumental in the team's Stanley Cup win in 2009 and established himself as one of the franchise's most beloved players.

[sergeifyodorov]

13, 14, 18, & 26 for the asks thing please?

sorry it took so long to get to this omg ok

13. a player you know you wouldn’t vibe with

most of them let's be real. i am going to pick an out of left field option and say mitchie marns. look i love the guy. worlds sweetest sweetheart. best hockey player in the world WHO is connor mcdavid. but he is so LOUD im sorry i have sensory issues T_T

14. a player you would get along with

i could stitch n bitch with igor shesterkin all day . also ken dryden but he is an old man (literally not hockeywise) so i feel as if he doesn't count.

18. who would be on your dream hockey team

SERGEI FEDOROV!!! ok my dream hockey team can resurrect everyone from the dead and plunk them back into hockey at peak form. forward positions only kind of nebulously count. salary cap means nothing. i am trying to win obviously but also not including some guys because we can't have everything. for our 12 forwards we are going:

slava kozlov/igor larionov/sergei fedorov (larionov and sons)

paul kariya/steve yzerman/mitch marner (babygirl line)

connor mcdavid/auston matthews/elias pettersson (gay centres line)

alexander ovechkin/gordie howe/jaromir jagr (indestructible line)

for our 6 defencemen let's have

quinn hughes/luke hughes (i think the connection here is obvious)

morgan rielly/erik karlsson (get sillay with it)

slava fetisov/vladdy konstantinov (complete the russian 5)

and now GOALIES.

vladdy tretiak (we dont talk enough about him.)

ken dryden (come back from law school we need u)

juuse saros (i am allowed to pick 3 goalies. in fact)

26. if you were gm of your favourite team for a day what would you do?

unfortunately a day is not a lot of time but we are OVER the cap and i need to get us UNDER THE CAP. let's make use of those ELCs folks! i am getting rid of lafferty and reaves (sorry ryan...), seeing if i can get picks back for them. probably not much for reavo he's ancient and has a terrible contract (might have to do a pick exchange. heyyyy chicago you can have our third AND this mentor/protector for your sacred child if you give us a fifth or something in return.) but lafferty is oooh speedy and a leaf i could probably squeeze a second out of him if i threw in a fringe marlie or something. icing connor timmins as a forward. bringing up holmberg and nicky bobby. We Ride.

[chanelfunnell]

A mail bag

Not too much no drama (yes in message box but not puckbunny type)

A)anon I don't think Ovechkin will even with his empty netters reach Howe's record. Not like he is not good enough but the rules were different then and Ovi is ,veteran, player

B) his first name is Kris not Alex letang. No osing together nonstop does not mean The Letangs are not together lol. Crosby Interesting runs Toews Kane Interesting and so similar bs about Amanda and Kaner . Amanda is pregnant . I still miss to see BrinCat in Chicago. Goals and fun Not certain wags.

C) Marketa was an ice hockey boss of Tomas Hertl, in her tender age back in Prague years back. 15 years back and so. The man with a winning goal against Canada in Nagano was a coach of her team HC Slavia Prague. They tanked financially when she has left for UK and so any other ice hockey club with that ice hockey coach later on. If not bankrupt so at the bottom with no results , say Filip Hronek's home team where the coach's 2nd wife a pole dancer and 25 years his junior has sent her naked photos to the ice hockey players and cheated on him. The coach wanted a money from the parents for minor players to be on the roster and it is apparently typical for young Czech ice hockey. Nepotism, destroyed potential talents with serfdom and bad campaigns, stops and methods and tactics stuck in Stone age, big wigs in their association shopping with their wives in designer boutiques of Czech Madison Avenue. No shock Markle has found her soundboard. The other coach who was young and promoted as a modern expert sucked all enthusiasm fromCzech star NHL team but problems with anybody from their national League and a scoring Czech player. With Canadian scoring player, young players were lazy and not training enough like Jagr with his squats, older players were not in touch with his modern methods, Czech NHLers too primadonnas. They knew M and her development, tips, strategy. It's her ice hockey idea frame what they play now even she has no input in. Marketa was a sport journo as a teenager, keen to write anything and so any small feature or cover female basketball players in Brno. She got up to the ladder gradually, so other female sport journos. I don't mean this one in this outfit but yes she is beautiful and so other girls.

M was always very strict and she is very strict with taming David J now and his ventures how she calls it from New Foundland and Ohio to Florida to have stupid manners of communist pensioners about little helpers when he is not good with his puck handling and no cupped blade of stock or two hands on during scoring. Compared to old structures she supports their brain and play intelligence learning from mistakes . Their national teams were not obedient to listen to their coach unless it was a former star ice hockey player, even voracek has a problem to do it in 2019. All their junior teams were arguing cliques and so with Zacha. Then a lot of things changed. They became a great team despite having not an ice hockey player coach who trolled them on the top. Not good with quick dangles, dekes on the way to the net or quick puck handling for scoring so the goal keeper is able to prepare for the shot but their ice hockey is 3D and very attractive, modern ice hockey. Hertl was a top scorer not ages ago. I would type the last post with M's photos today and I close this topic for next and following year(s). How get an entry to army and be relevant female biz leader lol

D) Brown shoes of Jonathan Toews on New Year day.!!!!! I analyzed them.

[bllsbailey]

The 'Great One' Freaks Out Canadians, Social Media Wimps by Showing Up at Trump Election Eve Celebration

There’s great, and then there’s GREAT. Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky owns so many records that it’s almost hard to comprehend his utter dominance in the sport. Many of his achievements will likely never be broken, and he is an absolute legend in Canada and among NHL fans worldwide.

Winning four Stanley Cups (1984, 1985, 1987 ,1988), Gretzky set records in both regular season and post-season play, holding the record for most career regular season goals (894), assists (1,963), points (2,857) and hat-tricks (50). The next closest player in total points for the regular season is Jaromir Jagr at 1,921,[1] thus he had more career assists than any other player has total points.

Despite his legendary status, he set the internet on fire by appearing at a victory night party for President-elect Donald Trump. Sending leftists further into angst, he wore a white Make America Great Again cap at the Mar-a-Lago soiree. Oh, the horror!

Gretzky joined a long line of pro athletes who rejected the Harris-Biden-Walz vision for America. And why not? Winning at sports requires excellence, discipline, and commitment—it’s a meritocracy, and favors aren’t handed out for how you “identify”:

Gretzky joined several athletes who have outwardly supported Trump on his way to defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election last week. Athletes like Nick Bosa, Harrison Butker, James Winchester, Brett Favre, Danica Patrick, Jake Paul, Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell and a slew of UFC fighters have come out in support of Trump over the last few months.

Of course, the snowflakes were butthurt:

Oh, poor baby. But have you noticed “Perspective Canada,” what your Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has wrought on your country?

Tru D’oh: Pure Gold: Steelworker Doesn't Hold Back, Tells Leftist Justin Trudeau Exactly What He Thinks of Him

Canada's Government Considering Jailing People Who 'Might' Commit a Hate Crime

Socialism, Eh? Trudeau Orders Podcasting Platforms to Register With Canadian State Regulator

Canada under Trudeau has gone down a path that Biden-Harris-Walz could only dream of. He’s the answer to every one of their beta-male, censorious, socialist dreams. No wonder the Great One and his family have no interest in seeing that here.

But the wokesters gonna cry:

Yeah, whatever. Good for the Great One and his family, and for all the haters, get over yourselves. He’s right, and you’re wrong.

Meantime, in case you’ve forgotten just how great he was or weren’t around for it, here’s a reel that will take your mind off politics for a minute and remind you of just how completely he dominated the sport. Enjoy, despite the degraded footage:

[anthonybialy]

Crossing the Blue Line Insufficient for Buffalo Sabres

The championship isn’t won after one round, which harms the self-esteem of perennial outcasts.  Making the playoffs is not the only goal.  You’re supposed to win four rounds.  The Buffalo Sabres are only four short.  It’s tough to get to the elite eight without making the tournament.  Cinderella stories are charming for colleges nobody but attendees have heard of, not for slightly better paid supposed professionals.

This isn’t the semi-amateur tournament.  Finishing in the sweet 16 is a rather minor athletic achievement if you’re in the NHL and an alleged pro.  The Sabres would struggle to find NIL money.  Yet there will be much rejoicing from fans who’ve been conditioned by sinister ownership to accept the most marginal achievements as Cup equivalents.  Hoping for the Sabres to get vaguely close brings to mind the Freaks and Geeks episode where the latter celebrate getting an out while disregarding the game’s still going on.  There are many outs to go.

The Sabres succeeded in lowering expectations if you thought they had no achievements.  The percentage of fans who’d be thrilled just to appear in the postseason is the only thing that’s increased.  Captives are sympathetic to the plight of their captors.  Stockholm syndrome is now called Sabres syndrome.

The nonchalance astounds.  It took a lucky 13 misses to get serious about hiring someone who knows how to get this team to the playoffs, and the transaction featured a soft reboot.  Never forget the names of duped fans who viewed Don Granato as the messiah when the team was teetering on the edge of finally falling into the playoffs.  Those who thought he was capable of lifting the Stanley Cup should be required to state such in their Twitter bios.

Terry Pegula should aspire to more than an awards show invitation.  Oscar nominees claiming they’re happy just to be nominated are flaunting their acting skills.  The difference between the Academy Awards and the NHL is that one can succeed at filmmaking without taking home a trophy.

Starvation leads to Subway sounding appetizing.  It’s sadistic how long this franchise has deprived its fans of energy.  Lindy Ruff’s primary mission is to make KeyBank Center livelier than a bank branch in a morgue.

Appearing could be a nice start.  This scrappy group of resistance warriors will finally make it around the time cyborgs are piloting flying Ubers.  But a low seed would be framed as a victory in itself when they’d merely be as competent as any random mediocre team who’s managed a top-half regular-season finish.

Improvement doesn’t have to be incremental.  A qualifier could advance multiple times when they finally end the worst playoff miss streak in NHL history, an ignominy that should be emphasized in every single discussion regarding the the side that has not managed to grab a single increment.

Don’t clap for a cameo.  It would be disappointing if they lost that first appearance in about a generation.  In election cycle terms, the Sabres haven’t won one since the George W. Bush administration.  No matter who you vote for, there’ll be another term before they even get a chance.

Life was way more social back then before social media.  You may have been one of a handful of people who’s ever tweeted about a Sabres playoff series triumph considering the last time it occurred was about the time Twitter had around 50,000 active users.  You just had to have been a very early social media adapeter.  There are maybe 30 tweets around the time of finishing off a Rangers team captained by Jaromir Jagr, so there aren’t that many options.

Perennial outcasts don’t need to limit themselves.  There’s a sense they’d be satisfied with one round.  Such a limited mentality keeps even that modest tier from being reached.  An appearance would virtually guarantee retaining a coach for a decade or so.  Their own sunken standard leads to low hopes.

There’s a world outside their unparalleled lousy consistency.  The Sabres will build a statue of the coach who loses a series next to the French Connection.  The presently conceptual honorary structure will be much larger and definitely cast a shadow over present monument.  Ownership would hire a sculptor for their savior before building a Dominik Hasek or Rick Jeanneret one.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single stride.  It’s one the Sabres never take.  They should not be happy with merely appearing even though exiting that particular zone would mean advancement in the technical sense.

This kind club doesn’t want to get greedy and take chances from others by hogging conference finals slots.  The champion is a personal standard, according to those who never win a real one.  Four playoff losses would be an improvement for Buffalo.  Don’t treat it as enough.

[vintagehockeycardsreport]

Phil Esposito's First New York Rangers Hockey Card

Phil Esposito's performance during the 1975-76 NHL season is split between two teams: the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers. He joined the Rangers on November 7, 1975, as part of a trade involving Carol Vadnais, Brad Park, Jean Ratelle, and Joe Zanussi.

Although Esposito never quite matched his previous goal-scoring prowess with the Bruins, he managed to score at least 34 goals per season while playing for the Rangers until his final year in 1980-81. Unfortunately, that season proved to be a challenging one for him, as he played only 41 games for the Rangers and scored a mere seven goals before retiring.

On the back of his card, you'll find mention of his remarkable 76-goal season in 1970-71. During that year, he netted 76 goals and provided 76 assists, accumulating an impressive total of 152 points. Esposito held the record for most goals and points in a single season in the NHL until Wayne Gretzky surpassed him. Gretzky set a new record of 92 goals in 1981-82 and later cemented his dominance with an astonishing 215 points in 1985-86.

Over his NHL career from 1963-64 to 1980-81, Esposito played 1,282 regular season games and 130 playoff games for the Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, and New York Rangers. In recognition of his achievements, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984. Esposito's five or more Art Ross Trophy wins place him in an elite group of players, including Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, and Connor McDavid.

1976-77 O-Pee-Chee 245 Phil Esposito Hockey Card [YouTube Shorts]

[icedbatik]

Penguins to retire Jaromir Jagr’s No. 68 during pre-game ceremony on Feb. 18

By Pittsburgh Penguins

November 10, 2023

The Pittsburgh Penguins will raise two-time Stanley Cup Champion Jaromir Jagr’s no. 68 jersey to the rafters at PPG Paints Arena on February 18 versus the Los Angeles Kings as part of a pre-game celebration, it was announced today by the club.

As part of the ‘Celebrate 68’ festivities, all fans in attendance that night will receive a replica Jagr No. 68 banner. In addition, a commemorative Jagr bobblehead has been added as a giveaway to all fans in attendance on Thursday, March 14 versus the San Jose Sharks.

Jagr, whose NHL career spanned over two decades, is one of the most accomplished players in NHL history and a member of the league’s ‘100 Greatest Players.’ In 1,733 career regular-season games, the 6-foot-3, 230-pound winger scored 766 goals, 1,155 assists and 1,921 points. He ranks fourth all-time in games played and goals, fifth in assists, and only Wayne Gretzky (2,857) has recorded more points than him. No player in NHL history has more game-winning goals than Jagr’s 135.

Drafted by Pittsburgh in the first round (5th overall) of the 1990 NHL Draft, Jagr spent the first 11 seasons of his 24-year NHL career with the Penguins, appearing in 806 regular-season games notching 439 goals, 640 assists, 1,079 points, 78 game-winning goals and was plus-208. He is in the top-5 in franchise history in games played (5th), goals (4th), assists (4th), points (4th), plus/minus (2nd) and game-winning goals (4th). He was one of 13 captains in team history, serving in the role from 1998-01. 

Jagr was an instrumental piece of Pittsburgh’s back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships in 1991 and ’92 – his first two seasons in the NHL. In that two-year span, Jagr suited up for 45 postseason contests, notching 37 points (14G-23A), which was sixth in the NHL over that stretch. Jagr shined during the 1992 Stanley Cup playoffs, recording a playoff career-high 24 points (11G-13A) in 21 games. In total, Jagr has dressed in 208 Stanley Cup Playoff contests, accumulating 201 points (78G-123A). He is one of just six players in NHL history with 200 or more playoff points. 

The 10-time NHL All-Star has won a plethora of awards over the course of his NHL career. He is a five-time Art Ross Trophy winner (NHL Scoring Leader – 1995, ’98, ’99, ‘00, ’01), three-time Ted Lindsay Award winner (Most Outstanding Player – 1999, ’00, ’06), and was the recipient of the Hart Trophy (NHL MVP) in 1998-99 and Bill Masterton Trophy (Perseverance, Sportsmanship, and Dedication to Ice Hockey) in 2015-16. Jagr was named to the NHL’s First All-Star Team seven times (1995, ’96, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’06), the Second All-Star Team in 1996-97 and was a member of the All-Rookie Team in 1990-91.

Throughout NHL history, only Chris Chelios (26), Gordie Howe (26) and Mark Messier (25) have played more seasons in the NHL than Jagr’s 24. Of his 24 seasons, he notched 20-plus goals 19 times and 30-plus goals 15 times, which both rank third in league history. He’s also hit the 100-point plateau five times, and was the sixth-oldest player in NHL history to accomplish that feat during the 2005-06 season at 34 years and 31 days old.

The native of Kladno, Czechia has multiple accolades on the international stage. He’s won a gold medal (1998) and bronze medal (2006) at the Olympic Games, two gold medals (2005, ’10) and two bronze medals (1990, 2011) at the IIHF World Championship and a bronze medal at the 1990 IIHF World Junior Championship. Jagr is one of just 30 players in history to join the Triple Gold Club, which includes winning a Stanley Cup, an Olympic gold medal and an IIHF World Championship gold medal. He and Jiri Slegr are the only two players of Czech descent to accomplish this feat. 

Jagr currently owns Rytiri Kladno of the Czech Extraliga and has been majority owner of the team since 2011-12.

[icyhotheartwritings]

The All Star games are getting worse by the year. More of a spectacle than a competition and somehow less fun. They had to put up a $1 million bribe to get people to take it seriously and Kucherov just proved even that won’t work. I hope skipping 2025 will mean it’ll come back better in 2026 but I’m not holding out hope.

Like, it doesn’t even have to be a serious event. Anyone remember when Burns and Pavelski took their kids? The fake argument with Schneider and Luongo to let the kids score? Subban dressing up as Jagr? All in the same event? Where the fuck did the fun go. Now we get to watch everyone sit down until McDavid wins and Kucherov continues to not give a fuck.

Sorry for posting a hockey take but if Nikita Kucherov hates the All Star Games so badly he should go the fuck home. He deserved every ounce of booing he got.

And that side eye from McDavid.

I would say let someone who wants to go and who the fans want to see take his place, but we all know how that went for John Scott.

[rinkrats]

anyway i’m not over this article so here are some things that made me :’)

1. ...this lanky Russian star from a small, industrial town sat with his left shoulder pressed against the right shoulder of the face of hockey, this sturdy son of a Canadian harbor town. They came from wildly different backgrounds but, at this very moment, were a singular force. In many ways, this is how it should’ve been after a decade together. Two generational players, gifted to the Penguins one year apart, primed to leave an indelible mark on hockey’s biggest stage.

2. “Sometimes stars aren’t close,” says Rick Tocchet, their former assistant coach. “But those two, you know, it made things easier because of how close they are. You don’t see that every day.”

3. While Malkin’s English was limited, his mutual understanding of Crosby — on and off the ice — was pure instinct from their first days together.

“We’ve been together for a really long time now,” Crosby said. “Now that I think about it, it’s hard to believe how long it’s been. And to be honest, we became friends at the very beginning and it’s just always been that way. His English wasn’t so great at first, but we just always understood each other from the beginning.”

“I like to think I can relate to the pressure that he deals with and the expectations that come with all of that pressure. We were both high draft picks and expected to do a lot of big things when we entered the league. You are happy and excited to be drafted that high, for sure. But at the same time, there is a different kind of pressure there. Geno and I have talked about it before and I think we just always have kind of had a sense for one another, when we’re up, when we’re down, what we’re dealing with.”

4. Having failed to bring the Penguins back to a Stanley Cup Final after playing in two during their first three seasons together, Crosby and Malkin each sensed their partnership could be the next casualty for continued postseason failures.“I of course worry because GM, coach and Nealer are gone,” Malkin said three years later. “Is not mad, but worry that maybe they say Sid and I can’t play together too. We have to win again, of course. To stay together, we have to win again.

“I tell Sid we have to win again because I always want to play with you.”

5. During his rookie season, Malkin often caught himself transfixed on a framed photograph that hung above an entranceway separating the home dressing room and player’s lounge at the old Civic Arena. The framed photograph showed Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr each gripping a side of the Cup that the Penguins won in 1991 and in 1992. On the day before Game 7 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Final in Detroit, Malkin was one of the last players to leave Civic Arena. Before he departed for the airport, he took one last look at that framed photo and told a reporter, “I want one of me and Sid.”

In the euphoric chaos of the on-ice celebration in Detroit the next night, Malkin and Crosby never managed to get that picture. No big deal. They were young. They were in charge. They would have many other chances. Or so they thought. 

When the Penguins won their long-awaited second title of the Crosby/Malkin era in San Jose in 2016, they simply forgot again. Strike 2.There would be no Strike 3.

Malkin had instructed a team employee on the morning of Game 6 in Nashville to “get me and Sid with Cup if we win, no matter what.”

Lounging on a sofa with his injured toe resting on a table, dressed casually as if he had just warmed up for a tennis match against his actual brother, Malkin stroked his chin while looking at a digital picture of him and Crosby posing for the picture that had eluded them twice before.

“The best picture of my life,” Malkin says. “My two friends, and me.”

6. “I hope we win more,” Crosby said. “That’s always the goal. But no matter what, he’s my friend for life.”

7. At his apartment in Moscow, his offseason condominium on Florida’s Fisher Island and at his home in Pittsburgh, Malkin displays various memorabilia of Crosby. These include Russian nesting dolls painted in Crosby’s likeness, framed photographs, pucks and sticks from various games, anything and everything the most serious Crosby fan would want for his or her collection. Malkin jokes that Nikita, his son, will probably pick Crosby as his favorite player because of all the stuff.

“Is good,” Malkin said. “Of course, I will be his real favorite. But Sid is the best player, the best teammate. A great friend. I hope Nikita thinks of him as family. I do.”

Clearly, Crosby considers Malkin family.

“Having him around has always made my life better, on and off the ice,” Crosby said. “He has a way of knowing when to make you laugh, knowing when to lighten the room. But at the same time, he knows when to be serious, too. It’s just a great friendship. I just always liked him from the start. Always have. Always will.”

[professionallydeadinside]

I remember when I was doing an ask thing and you said you thought it would be funny if guy has had like the most previous partners lmao, I think it’d be rly funny if the ship had to go some far away planet for a mission and like at least 8-9 of his exes are all just there (also jealous Jagre times maybe)

-Tostoa

WKSNWKSKDNSJ ALL OF GUY’S EXES ARE THERE AND TRYING TO WIN HIM BACK AND JAGRE IS TRYING TO NOT KILL THEM

[axiomsofice]

Checking In: 2020 Entry Draft

One of the pillars of my sports fandom is my interest in the players of tomorrow, and as such Entry Drafts are among my favourite focal points. In enjoying NFL draft season I’m realizing it’s a good a time as any to revisit some story lines.

1: Lafreniere: There was not much left to accomplish in the QMJHL for Alexis, but that doesn’t mean he’s a top 6 forward from day 1. Amidst the turmoil of the Rangers’ season thus far he hasn’t been the dynamic difference maker we’re used to seeing from him. That being said I have no concerns, just look at team mate Kappo Kakko, who’s having a strong sophomore season as a middle 6 forward. Kakko’s been very good defensively, and is showing more and more of his skillset, controlling the puck well along the boards and down low in the offensive zone. He could almost play a style similar to Jagr in that way, especially if he can convert those possessions into dangerous chances thru passes or growing into his shot. We’ve seen the dangles and snipes at lower levels, but we’re well on our way to seeing an insane group of wingers on this Rangers’ team as these two grow to new heights in a group that already boasts Panarin, Kreider, et al. 

2: Byfield: Q is basically a whole year younger than Laf, but he’s already been excelling in the AHL. He’s got great hands, passing, speed, all the tools.  Some might’ve said he was raw, in large part due to most of his points coming off the rush, but we’re already seeing growth in key areas. Especially using his strength, puck protection, and elite passing skills down low for in-zone offense. It’s like off the rush he could be Malkin, in tight he’s got some JVR moves (James is really a gold standard for me), and he passes like Getzlaf. It all came to fruition recently as Byfield centered a line with Akil Thomas and Devante Smith-Pelley, notably the first all Black line in franchise history (but not pro hockey history!) and authored a Hollywood comeback to win the game in the shootout. Thomas, who already scored a gold medal winning goal in the world juniors, netted a hat trick in the last 3+ minutes to bring the Reign back from 4-1, then scored the eventual shootout winner. Byfield and Thomas definitely reminded me of Backstrom and Oshie at the side and front of the net respectively (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pimOI4eQLxE is a perfect example). 

3. Stutzle: I’ve started calling him a Ferrari. Like Pavel Bure or Marian Gaborik, so fast and skilled and dynamic. A highlight reel. Oh buddy, would he make the Sharks’ lives a lot better. Maybe he should’ve gone higher? Probably not tho? Unless... Either way holy smokes what a top 3. Ottawa is looking alright, Sanderson also had a strong year at University North Dakota aka Junior Sens. Kawaguchi?

That’s it for now