I liked the 2016 Pens for their focus on speed, and the 2009 Pens actually won, but I really enjoyed the 2008 Penguins team. The 07-08 team was the toughest the Crosby era Penguins ever were. We had Gary Roberts and Georges Laracque and every other guy on the team played like they were nine feet tall. I remember the first round of the playoffs against Ottawa, who had beaten the Pens the year before,
Ryan Whitney filled in Wade Redden for getting into a cross checking match with Sidney Crosby, a fight Crosby initiated. The team that beats guys up because they stood up for themselves is the team you want to have. Earlier in the year there was this big brawl with the Flyers that featured
Roberts beating the crap out of Ben Eager, that was refreshing. The Penguins are never tougher than the Flyers except for that year.
The skill side of course wasn't bad either. Crosby had his ankle sprain while he was tied with Lecavalier for the scoring lead. Malkin emerged as a real elite player, flanked by Ryan Malone and Petr Sykora on the Steel City Line. Jordan Staal had a sophomore slump, but Sergei Gonchar had his best year on the Penguins and was 4th in Norris voting (Gonchar never had a nomination but was 4th three times). Tyler Kennedy's rookie year, my ideal 3rd/4th line energy checking winger. Max Talbot has a good year, great playoff, scores big goals,
scores the goal with 34.3 seconds left to save us from a five game sweep in the Final. This is the year of the big trade where we made Colby Armstrong cry. I'd cry too being sent to the Thrashers. Of course we got a superstar in return, that incredible two way player and all time great; Pascal Dupuis!
1999
