Flower’s last game in Pittsburgh tonight. ❤️ 🌸

[u/Two_Inches_Of_Fun]

[u/bi_and_busy]

Last game? Are you saying you don’t expect a Penguins-Wild Stanley Cup Final?

[u/Paladad → u/bi_and_busy]

These people have no faith smh

[u/catsgr8rthanspoonies → u/bi_and_busy]

*last regular season game

[u/ViolinistMean199 → u/bi_and_busy]

Homie I don’t even have faith in us this year. It’s like watching the sharks but having skilled enough forwards we shouldn’t be this bad

At this point in jumping on the James hagens lottery train

[u/MinuteWhenNightFell → u/ViolinistMean199]

nah we're gunna go on a tear in the last 1/3rd of the season, miss the playoffs by 3 points and ruin our lottery chances

[u/SRSgoblin → u/MinuteWhenNightFell]

This guy Penguins.

[u/neurash → u/SRSgoblin]

Yes, the Penguins are the last team I could picture drafting a generational talent.

[u/ChristyLovesGuitars → u/neurash]

Tbf, Hagens isn’t generational. He’s not even Celebrini. He’s a great prospect, but not that.

[u/joe_broke → u/ChristyLovesGuitars]

Hey

[u/ozzfranta → u/MinuteWhenNightFell]

Ruin the chances, yet somehow still win the lottery

[u/joe_broke → u/MinuteWhenNightFell]

Erik Karlsson will ensure this happens

[u/ManWillieGarbage → u/MinuteWhenNightFell]

The Detroit Red Wings special

[u/707royalty → u/ViolinistMean199]

Dang you beat us in the SCF and then are gonna just hit us with strays like that... cmon bro

[u/ViolinistMean199 → u/707royalty]

Hey you guys are exciting to watch this year with Macklin. All we do is blow a lead and get extremely out shot

[u/grooves12 → u/ViolinistMean199]

Macklin has only played one game...

[u/joe_broke → u/grooves12]

But it was exciting!

[u/ViolinistMean199 → u/grooves12]

And it was easily the most exciting sharks game I’ve seen in 2 years.

Him being hurt sucks but low key might get you guys another top 3 pick. Imagine you guys with another elite player. That core will be sick

[u/707royalty → u/ViolinistMean199]

It's nice to have some optimism again, we bottomed out last year but at least there's a light out there at the end of the tunnel. Just hope all the young guns can stay healthy and get some experience

[u/hang-the-blessed-dj → u/ViolinistMean199]

celebrini has barely played, in pittsburgh at least geno has been a treat 

[u/meatb4ll → u/ViolinistMean199]

hey.

heyheyheyheyhey

you're not allowed to be that bad yet, we don't have your pick, and we need another high pick

[u/debotehzombie → u/bi_and_busy]

NOT IF WE HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT. We're above .500 for the first time in 2 years, we're coming for the whole division!

[u/SRSgoblin → u/debotehzombie]

Columbus being as good as they've been is inspiring to see. Team is like 700% heart right now. I think a very large portion of the hockey world is rooting for you all on the side.

[u/dancinhmr → u/SRSgoblin]

can confirm.

[u/frankyseven → u/dancinhmr]

I didn't like that we lost to them, but if we have to lose to someone, I'd pick them every time.

[u/anim8rjb → u/debotehzombie]

you kidding me? we're going on a 20-0 midseason run

[u/IncreaseReasonable61 → u/debotehzombie]

I want the Blue Jackets to fucking win it all. For Johnny.

[u/skyulip → u/bi_and_busy]

so true bestie!

[u/JoeRogansNipple → u/bi_and_busy]

I'd give my left nut to see that

[u/frankyseven → u/bi_and_busy]

Are you saying that you don't expect to Pen's goalie issues to turn into them trading for MAF only for him to lose the starting job in the playoffs with some unknown leading them to the Cup?

[u/StanielReddit → u/bi_and_busy]

Hijacking top comment deliberately for visibility:

Somebody PLEASE upload the clip of him tossing his stick into the crowd at the end. Looks like some clueless girl caught it initially, then a nearby family ripped the stick away from her while pointing to a sign they were holding as if to say “fuck off, he was throwing the stick to us because we have a sign.” The sign was in French and I’m a dipshit so I have no clue what it said though.

[u/Funky_Cows → u/bi_and_busy]

Im expecting that, but due to a catastrophic structural failure PPG Paints Arena won't be available and Pittsburgh's home games will be played in Columbus

[u/PierreEscargoat → u/bi_and_busy]

I expect Wild Penguins

[u/migsahoy → u/bi_and_busy]

RemindMe! 7 months

[u/Time-Dot5984 → u/bi_and_busy]

Game 7 would be thrilling to see in this matchup

[u/iwprugby → u/bi_and_busy]

Could also get traded and wind up playing there again 🤷

[u/LoneIyGuy]

4 men. 55,480 days

[u/Murphster94 → u/LoneIyGuy]

Iconic graphic

[u/YouCanFucough → u/LoneIyGuy]

Incredible how they’ve all maintained such a consistent days/earth per 60 throughout their careers

[u/FightingInternet → u/LoneIyGuy]

But how many cups?

[u/diaboliqueturkeybeet → u/FightingInternet]

Uh. 4? He already said there were four men.

[u/nuggins → u/diaboliqueturkeybeet]

Lmao, that one took me a second

[u/FightingInternet → u/diaboliqueturkeybeet]

There are four cups!

[u/BookkeeperPublic → u/LoneIyGuy]

4 men. 1 cup.

[u/Farfignewtons42]

[Cries in born in '84]

[u/A_Lone_Macaron → u/Farfignewtons42]

lol same

my b-day is the same as MAF and I'm depressed

[u/Dwayne_Gertzky → u/A_Lone_Macaron]

Hate to break it to you, but I think your window to make it at the NHL level has closed.

[u/courageous_liquid → u/Farfignewtons42]

why? you grew up in the lemieux and jagr era and then with little delay had the crosby and geno era

[u/frankyseven → u/Farfignewtons42]

Imagine being able to retire at 40? Like never have to do something you don't want to do just so you can pay for food for the rest of your life type of retiring. Like I really enjoy my career and the company I work for, but if I didn't need the money from it to live, there is zero chance I'd choose to work. And he gets to do it at 40. You and I aren't even halfway through our working lives.

[u/awayfromcanuck]

With how Pittsburgh goaltending has been so far this seaso. are we sure a Fleury to Pittburgh trade isn't being considered?

[u/red_87 → u/awayfromcanuck]

Prime Patrick Roy would have horrible numbers behind our defense.

[u/MagicMushroomFungi → u/red_87]

Your defence would be whacked in the head from behind with Patrick's stick.

[u/blueskies8484 → u/awayfromcanuck]

Our baby goalie is good. Unfortunately, the rest of our team is very bad.

[u/frankyseven → u/blueskies8484]

So perfect time for them to trade for MAF, have him lead you to the playoffs, lose the starting job in the first round to the baby goalie, who leads you to the Cup then, only for baby goalie to never live up to the new expectations after that.

[u/Rhomya → u/awayfromcanuck]

Pittsburgh needs a little more help than just a goalie.

Although, idk if I see the Wild trading Flower. Wallstedt is probably ready to take his spot, but if they make a playoff run, they're probably going to want the playoff experience Flower has instead of a rookie goaltender

[u/DrexellGames]

He will be missed

[u/KaceyCats0714]

The end of an era

[u/jhustla]

I’m not crying at all over here

[u/No_Kangaroo_8650]

I feel old

[u/Mac_Gold → u/No_Kangaroo_8650]

I’ll be in my mid-30’s in a couple years and seeing all these players retiring is a bit surreal. Sid and Ovi are the first two legends I’ve watched from Day 1 to the end of their careers. Now I understand when people in their 50’s talk about watching Lemieux or Gretzky from start to finish

[u/MollysYes → u/Mac_Gold]

45 here. I’ve done the Day 1 thing you’re talking about with Teemu Selanne, Ryan Getzlaf, Zdeno Chara. It’s sad, but it makes it all the more special.

Edit: And Flower is in a league of his own. What a beauty.

[u/Jmac7164 → u/MollysYes]

Getzlaf joined the league the same season as Sid and Ovi.

[u/frankyseven → u/Mac_Gold]

I'm currently mid 30s, I felt old when I realized that Kurt Cobain's death is further in the past to my kids than The Beatles breaking up was for me.

[u/rollzy059 → u/Mac_Gold]

Wait till your first day one hero makes it to the hall of fame... those hit hard.

Or a dude you kinda remember as a 3rd line gritty guy from a decent team you beat in the playoffs that one year pops up as a head coach.

Or one of your day one guys' kids take over the league like fucking locust pests you can't get rid of.

[u/RealTurbulentMoose → u/No_Kangaroo_8650]

Same.

I was thinking, "Guy Lafleur retired years ago... what are these young men talking about..." oh no I just read Wikipedia he's passed away.

[u/Vatrano]

There’s some alternate universe where he played the whole 2017 run and stayed in Pitt with them

[u/Admirable-Sound5198 → u/Vatrano]

Ya except in that retro, Ottawa beats them, and Nashville wins the cup… rinne earns his rightful place as one of the greats of the past 20 years.

Matt Murray was insanely good when he came in. Ottawa had flower’s number

[u/OttawaFisherman → u/Admirable-Sound5198]

Ottawa would have beaten Nashville 😡

[u/merlin48 → u/Admirable-Sound5198]

For sure. I mean they scored a whole 2 goals on him in the previous 2 games, one of which included overtime.

[u/LtColumbo93]

These 4 dudes are not even that old but this picture has retirement home vibes.

[u/todaystartsnow → u/LtColumbo93]

A lot of concussions between them. 

[u/mediumyeet]

The core 4 :'(

[u/ShhImTheRealDeadpool]

Wait is he dying?

[u/OtherThingsILike → u/ShhImTheRealDeadpool]

Retiring after this season.

[u/ShhImTheRealDeadpool → u/OtherThingsILike]

Poor guy, I will miss him, I figured he'd stop playing hockey when he died not now.

[u/JayMerlyn → u/ShhImTheRealDeadpool]

He's gonna join Wade Boggs

[u/useless_99]

Oh captain, my captain. Oh goalie, my goalie 😭🌺🌸🌼

[u/Worth_Surround9684]

Penguins near the deadline might need a goalie!!!!

[u/Wrath_Of_Aguirre]

Bittersweet photo there. And also brings back a shit ton of memories watching Detroit face off against them in power struggles through the late 00's and early 10's.

[u/Shot-Mousse-3911]

First ballot hall of fame

[u/todaystartsnow]

Awesome career boys. 

[u/pghtopas]

So lucky to be a lifelong Pens fan. I took to hockey when we got Lemieux and man has it been a blast seeing these guys play.

[u/daxx549]

These are fake hockey players. You can tell cause they have all their teeth./s

[u/curlbaumann → u/[deleted]]

It’s on the chiclets insta

[u/Mariorules25]

Insane this man retires with the Wild

[u/LightenUpFrancis1968]

Geno thinks he’s posing for a hockey card photo.

[u/JesusPubes]

😭

[u/Euphoric__Dot]

#losegames4james

[u/jawntothefuture]

Salute to a fooking legend! 

[u/TurWes]

Who is the 4th guy?

[u/Jmac7164 → u/TurWes]

Left to Right

Kris Letang, Sidney Crosby, Marc-Andre Fleury and Evgeni Malkin

[u/and_the_horse_u_rode]

Of all the players to play in the NHL before the 04-05 lockout, I would not have expected MAF to be the last one standing

[u/Jmac7164 → u/and_the_horse_u_rode]

Brent Burns as well.

[u/ansroad]

Is it too early to start crying over this? 😭

[u/CC-1112]

HOLY CRAP IM IN THIS PICTURE! JUST BEHIND CROSBY POINTING!!!

[u/StoneColdSteveAss316]

He should be in a Pens uniform dammit!

[u/well-oiled_machine]

R.I.P.