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Penguins' Winning Ways Sparks Fan Frustration as Draft Hopes Fade
The Penguins are playing their best hockey of the season when they shouldn't be, as more wins at this time of year means a lower draft position, angering fans.
Penguins fans are irate. Their team's unexpected success is jeopardizing a first-round draft pick. A few weeks ago, a top-five pick in the upcoming NHL Draft was in sight.
The Penguins have points in six of their last seven games
But with a 5-1-1 streak, Pittsburgh could end up drafting anywhere from eighth to twelfth instead, per Josh Yohe.
"Many Penguins fans are aggravated with their favorite team these days. All of these wins, they say, are creating untold damage. They had a real chance to earn a top-five pick in the upcoming NHL Draft, but because of their recent winning streak - they're 5-1-1 in their past seven games - they might end up picking somewhere between eight and 12."
- Josh Yohe
- Josh Yohe
Others blame Kyle Dubas for not truly tanking. Others berate Mike Sullivan for unleashing Tristan Jarry, who, not so inconveniently, has got his mojo working and is assisting the team in winning.
"Some are blaming Kyle Dubas. How dare he not tank, they say.
Others are blaming Mike Sullivan. How dare he play Tristan Jarry, of all people, because Jarry suddenly gives his team the best chance to win. And Sullivan shouldn't want that because he should be more interested in landing a top draft pick.
Others are blaming Jarry. How dare he resurrect his career. Doesn't he know who Porter Martone is?"
- Josh Yohe
Others are blaming Mike Sullivan. How dare he play Tristan Jarry, of all people, because Jarry suddenly gives his team the best chance to win. And Sullivan shouldn't want that because he should be more interested in landing a top draft pick.
Others are blaming Jarry. How dare he resurrect his career. Doesn't he know who Porter Martone is?"
- Josh Yohe
Fans are trying to figure out why, now, specifically, is Jarry playing some of the best hockey of his life? Why couldn't he have done this earlier when the games actually mattered?
Through all the fuss over the drafts, Sidney Crosby is going about his business as usual with another great season. If fans are upset that the team is winning, they need to aim it at him.
He won't give up, dragging this team towards respectability from a disastrous, disappointing campaign.
Maybe it's instinct. Maybe it's muscle memory. But by March, Crosby always takes his game up several notches. The heat turns up, the playoffs are usually looming, and for a guy who has 180 Stanley Cup playoff games on his resume, that old fire is back.
Playoff game No. 181 won't be played this season, unfortunately. Instead, fans can only wonder at Crosby's greatness and how it is sadly affecting the team's draft ranking. It's definitely bitter-sweet.
| POLL | ||
MARS 25 | 112 ANSWERS Penguins' Winning Ways Sparks Fan Frustration as Draft Hopes Fade Should the Penguins stop winning to get a higher draft pick? | ||
| Yes | 50 | 44.6 % |
| No | 62 | 55.4 % |
| List of polls | ||