The Stanley Cup went to Trevor Daley second, and for good reason.
After collecting two primary assists in the Pittsburgh Penguins' decisive victory in Game 6, and being handed the shiny reward for his team's accomplishment, Sidney Crosby located the defenseman, hobbled on a broken ankle, because he didn't want his mother to wait any longer.
Crosby explained in his postgame presser that Daley told him between rounds that his mother, Trudy, not doing well in her battle with cancer, wanted nothing more than to see her son lift the Stanley Cup.
The information obviously resonated with Crosby, who after taking his second lap of his career, shared a special moment with Daley, and Trudy, during the exchange.
''It was pretty special,'' Daley said, via the Associated Press. ''He's a great player, but he's an even better person. There's not much more you can say about that guy. He's a special guy.''
For the fourth time in franchise history and second in the Sidney Crosby era, the Pittsburgh Penguins reign as Stanley Cup champions.
Pittsburgh completed its return trek to the summit Sunday night, eliminating the Western Conference champion San Jose Sharks with a 3-1 triumph in Game 6.
The conclusion to Pittsburgh's coronation was quite characteristic of the team's sudden, absolute ascendancy. The Penguins have been the NHL's best team since turning to minor-league head coach Mike Sullivan in mid-December, and while the culminating series remained close on the scoreboard, their supreme dominance shone through.
Here are three keys to the Penguins' title march:
Weapons, galore
Invariably, one team's success creates lessons for 29 others. But with respect to the new champs, their science, through trial and error (after error), was partially accidental.
Jim Rutherford had visions of a nuclear top six when he paid the high price to introduce five-time 30-goal man Phil Kessel to his fleet of wingers. His move had pundits predicting scoring titles and various major awards for Kessel and captain Sidney Crosby, who began the season on the same line.
But for whatever reason, it failed. An inauspicious start saw Crosby default to previous wingers, while Kessel, bumped, was struggling to mesh with another all-world pivot, Evgeni Malkin. Now catering to his summer splash, Rutherford canvassed the market for a player who possessed the tools - namely speed - required to play opposite Kessel and acquired Carl Hagelin.
Even still, it wasn't until Malkin went down with injury did the Pens unearth the formula. Nick Bonino spelled Malkin, and, by chance, the incomparable "HBK line" - a unit of three rookies to the organization - came together.
This "bottom six" line went on to produce a team-best 56 postseason points, but their impact is well beyond direct contributions. The threat of HBK meant that the opposition had three attacking trios, or a veritable top-nine to game plan for. This resulted in interminable mismatches and forced the opposition to deploy secondary options to defend elite talents on essentially every third shift.
Sullivan, and the greater grasp
Sullivan had much greater than an appreciable effect on the Penguins; his hire brought on a comprehensive change in philosophy, mentality, and tactics that clearly meant the difference for the team's stars, a nucleus now welcomed to play to its strengths.
But the difference in this team transforming from contender to title winner was beyond his uncaging big-money contributors. Rather, the difference was on the margins, and the teachings and trust established among professionals while earning minor-league pay.
In a few months in charge of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Sullivan developed a deeper understanding of the organizational assets, and, maybe more specifically, just exactly how Bryan Rust, Conor Sheary, Tom Kuhnhackl, and of course, goaltender Matt Murray were to assist the big club.
The Penguins aren't champions without their depth, their ancillary contributors, or their coach's detailed appreciation for the capabilities, and weaknesses, of every player on his roster.
Making due with misfit D
A club that employs forwards like Crosby, Malkin, and Kessel must make concessions elsewhere. For the Penguins, that's on the back end.
Kris Letang is the all-world defender championship teams have required over the last half decade. But aside from their lead dog, this defense is truly a patchwork unit, and one that almost inexplicably managed to hold firm long enough to win four rounds. Nothing's more representative of their misfit nature than Trevor Daley, who, after being cast off by the previous title winners, took the second-most minutes before breaking his ankle. An injury that somehow was no detriment to the team's success.
So, how is it exactly that Ian Cole, who doubles as a "Game of Thrones" critic; Ben Lovejoy, a defender whose GM publicly admitted that he wouldn't have acquired had he had the opportunity to do it all over; Brian Dumoulin, who though undeniably talented, we don't know enough about to offer an anecdote; Olli Maatta, a former first-round pick scratched three times in the conference final; and Justin Schultz, who went from "Norris Trophy potential" to absolute liability in Edmonton, manage to fortify the back end?
Inspired by its unflattering label, but at the same time fully understanding of its imperfections, the blue line was steadfast in filling shot lanes, leaping into the rush when the opportunity presented itself, and, when the walls began to close in, this group perfected the art of flipping the puck into neutral territory for Pittsburgh's speedy forwards to collect and take elsewhere.
This fleet-footed unit acknowledged, then performed within its limitations. And they can thank the lengthy list of detractors for outlining the parameters.
After winning the second Stanley Cup of his career, Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford was asked about his future, responding only with his plans for later this week - watching golf.
Is Jim Rutherford going to walk away and go out in a blaze of glory? Rutherford: "I'm going to the U.S. Open." The Cup will be at Oakmont.
The 67-year-old's second championship comes ten years after he led the Carolina Hurricanes to their first and only Cup victory in 2006.
Rutherford made a number of moves in the past year contributing to the Penguins' success, including the acquisitions of Phil Kessel, Nick Bonino, and Trevor Daley, as well as a mid-season coaching change where he hired Mike Sullivan.
So said San Jose Sharks coach Pete DeBoer, who credited his team for giving their all in the six-game series loss.
"I think first off, you have to give full credit to Pittsburgh. I thought they came out and played a hell of a series," DeBoer told reporters following Game 6 Sunday. "They played their game for much longer stretches than we were able to. They dictated the play. They started quicker than us. That's the reason they're holding the Cup.
"On our end, I'm very proud of our group. I thought our guys emptied the tank, gave us everything they possibly could. We weren't as good as them during this two-week period."
DeBoer added that the Sharks should be proud of what they accomplished after advancing to the final for the first time in their 25-year history, and following several misses along the way.
"Only one team can win. That doesn't take anything away from what those guys accomplished. I don't think anyone should ever question the leadership or the character or the will of the group of men in there. I think it's been misplaced for a decade. I would hope they answered some questions."
Those questions revolved mainly around Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, both of whom remain under contract for one more season.
Kadri ensured he'd remain a central component in Toronto's intent to capture similar glory shortly after his season ended, when he pledged another six years to the team that drafted him.
After winning the fourth championship in franchise history, here are the best photos from the celebration after the Pittsburgh Penguins' Stanley Cup victory:
The postseason injury report has already started trickling in.
First on the docket is Kris Letang, who reportedly went under the knife to treat a foot infection prior to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.
The Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman averaged close to 30 minutes of ice time throughout the course of the six-game series, and scored the game-winning goal in the championship-clinching contest Sunday night.
For the series, he recorded a goal and four assists in six games.
Clearly he was able to put his best foot forward against a tough San Jose Sharks opponent.
Forced to end his playing career due to a medical condition relating to blood clots earlier in the season, the veteran forward was present in San Jose as the Penguins came out on top of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final Sunday night,
Dupuis, joining his teammates on the ice in full uniform to celebrate, was the third member of the Penguins to hoist the Cup, following captain Sidney Crosby and injured defenseman Trevor Daley.
He was also a key member of Pittsburgh's 2009 championship squad.
The Pittsburgh Penguins won their fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history Sunday night, bringing them within two championships of their neighbors, the Steelers.
One of the more polarizing figures in the NHL enjoyed a moment no one can ever take away, hoisting the Stanley Cup chalice Sunday in San Jose after the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Sharks in six games.
Kessel was essential to the Penguins' run, leading the team in scoring with 10 goals and 22 points in the tournament.
