The “Penguins should’ve won 2011 and 2012” narrative is unrealistic
I understand being frustrated by injuries, especially in 2011. Crosby missing time absolutely changed Pittsburgh’s chances. But there’s a massive difference between saying “the Penguins might have gone further if healthy” and saying “they would have won the Cup.”
In 2011, you’re telling me a completely healthy Pittsburgh team was automatically beating that Boston Bruins team? Tim Thomas was putting together one of the greatest goaltending performances ever, Boston was suffocating at 5v5, their PK was elite, they were extremely well coached, and Pittsburgh’s own defensive/goaltending issues don’t magically disappear because Crosby is healthy.
And we literally got a reality check in 2013. A very similar Penguins core—Crosby, Malkin, Letang, etc.—ran into Boston in the ECF and got swept 4–0 while scoring TWO goals in the entire series. Obviously 2013 isn’t proof of exactly what would’ve happened in 2011, but it sure as hell makes “healthy Pittsburgh definitely beats Boston” look ridiculous.
Then there’s 2012. Another 4th seed finish
Crosby DID return before the playoffs, Malkin played 75 of 82 games and won the Hart and a 2nd Art Ross and Pittsburgh still lost in 6 to Philadelphia. They weren’t simply robbed of that series by injuries. The 5th seeded Flyers simply outplayed them.
And after all of that, Pittsburgh STILL won Cups in 2009, 2016 and 2017, including back-to-back championships.
At some point, can we acknowledge that injuries are part of hockey, playoff matchups matter, defense matters, special teams matter, goaltending matters, coaching matters, and having the flashiest offensive roster doesn’t entitle you to a Stanley Cup?
You can say 2011 was a missed opportunity.
But “we were robbed of two more Cups” is not a fact. It’s a hypothetical that was never even realistic from the start.
And considering they eventually won THREE Cups total with Crosby and Malkin (2 of them coming after those hardships), maybe that should’ve been enough closure.