A few weeks back, I was freaking out that instead of writing a, ‘Here’s your team piece’ I was writing an ‘In memoriam’ piece. I kept checking my phone at work to see if Fleury was still a Penguin. Thankfully, MAF was saved from the dog kennel and brought back home before he could be euthanized. Post-trade deadline, the MAF debate has simmered down but will most likely restart as we head into the play-offs. Like in the movie Pompeii where the volcano grumbles but stops, so everyone goes back to watching men decapitate each other (I’m looking at you Sidney). But before we get there, let’s remember the really bad times. Let me take you back, back to 2002-2003 season. Penguins’ record was: 27-44-6-5 (65 points) and they finished 5th in NHL Atlantic Division. The coach was Rick Kehoe and the starting goal was Johan Hedberg, with the back-up being Sebastien Caron.
Alright, pop quiz: You don’t make the playoffs but you do get the 3rd overall pick for the (all boner) 2003 draft class. Don’t mess this up! Continue reading