Who Are You? Turn Around so I Can See Your Name...

Throughout the years (even the lean ones) Pittsburgh has been graced with some of the world’s best hockey players to don their Penguins’ crest. The likes of Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Ron Francis, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin just to name a few.

But hockey is a team sport and those players, as good as they are/were still needed linemates on the ice with them. Often times, those on a line with these superstars are players you may never heard of if it weren’t for their superstar counterparts.

For example, for a few years Kevin Stevens played alongside Mario. While Stevens was a productive player without Lemieux, being his linemate allowed him to eclipse the 100-point mark. Something he never accomplished again without Super Mario. Another household name in Pittsburgh was “Downtown” Robbie Brown. Brown’s career statistics were forgettable. However, for that brief moment that he was allowed to smell the magnificence that poured out of Mario’s pours, Brown as well eclipsed the 100-point mark when he reached 115. Really? Did I read those stats right? You mean to tell me the man that Hextall chased around the rink, the man that struggled to stay in The Show after leaving the Penguins scored 115 points? This is what happens when you play on a line with Le Magnifique.

You have to think, “Well Lemieux is one of, if not the, greatest player to have laced up his skates (and half the time he didn’t do that even, someone else did it for him) anyone can do that.” Wrong! Konstantin Koltsov couldn’t. All the speed in the world can’t make your shot or ability to put the puck in the back of the net any better. Which is was his time on the King’s Court was short lived. While you don’t have to be the most individually talented player to play on a line with The Magnificent One, you do have to be able to provide a certain skill set. It’s a little more than keeping your stick on the ice and skating to open ice. Yes, this will get any player the puck when Mario is putting on the Ritz. He’ll find you and put the biscuit on your tape, it’s what you do afterwards that will make a player a crowned prince or the court jester. But Coach Clint, the game was different then, goalie equipment was smaller, there was more room on the ice. “It’s not today’s game”, you say. Fair enough, allow me to walk you slowly through the modern day game.

I give you, “The Next One” Sidney Crosby. Crosby scored 102 points in his rookie campaign and since then people have wondered how much better could he do with a goal scoring wing flanking him. Oddly enough, Crosby has done some of his best work with guys on his line you would never have heard of if number 87 wasn’t centering them.

Exhibit A: Chris Kunitz. Yes, Kuni had played with the likes of Selanne, Getzlaf, Perry when he was in Anaheim. But it’s in Pittsburgh alongside Sidney Crosby where he’s found his most of his success. Kunitz, an undrafted player, since playing on Crosby’s wing after being traded to the Pens, ended up on the Canadian Olympic squad because of his chemistry with Crosby. A feat he would have never accomplished otherwise.

Exhibit B: Pascal Dupuis. Another undrafted player who you would have never heard of had it not been for the Atlanta Thrashers adding him in as a bonus in the Marian Hossa trade. Number 9 who will forever be in our hearts, would have bounced around from team to team and been a forgettable player had he not found his place in the Royal Mansion.

Scoring wings have not worked for Sid. He’s playing his best when other players are grinding and getting him the puck and then getting open for him. And then once again, when they have the puck on their stick in open ice, they have to finish.

Another fine example that seems to be coming along on occasion right now is Conor Sheary. While Sheary is currently a fourth line player he’s been given the taste of the Hollywood life when 87 gets double shifted in order to avoid certain match ups against him. When getting the opportunity to play on a line with Lemieux’s golden goose, he’s been active and producing. Sheary is now skating around with his breezers a little tighter these days, after getting a few shifts playing alongside the “The Wizard of Croz”, as any player would who gets to play on a line with the greatest player in the game today. To play with these guys is simple...move your feet, get them the puck, move your feet some more and get to open ice, don’t bobble the pass (yeah I’m talking to you 81), and when you get the chance to score, you better turn on the red light. If you don’t, the Captain’s will wield their authoritative powers and have you manning a watch tower in Chickaloon, Alaska.