Looks like Sidney Crosby has decided to play superhero in Pittsburgh, invisible cape included.
While most teams would have already finished after such a chaotic start to the season, the Penguins persist. And guess who's still holding the fortress up?
The captain of all time, the one who refuses to let his team sink into oblivion, even if everything points in that direction.
You'd think that at 37, Crosby would start thinking about a permanent vacation or, at the very least, delegating a little. But no.
Where some would see a slippery slope to retirement, Sid sees it as a mountain to climb.
And if his older teammates like Malkin and Letang continue to climb with him, it's because they never learned to step back.
The Penguins, currently at 37 points and just behind the Senators and the Lightning in the playoff race, are still far from the elite.
But in the metropolitan area, where the Rangers are floundering and the Islanders are fighting not to sink, Crosby and his acolytes find a slim hope.
Is this realistic? Maybe not. But with Crosby, it's never a question of throwing in the towel.
Renewed life or temporary illusion? Hard to say. What is certain is that Pittsburgh has activated the mode “survival” just in time to revive a base of frustrated supporters.
Because let's be honest, since their last conquest of the Stanley Cup in 2017, the Penguins no longer scare anyone.
The failures of the last seasons, their inability to qualify for the series two years in a row… It all screamed the end of an era.
But Sidney Crosby refuses to listen to reason. He seems determined not to give up his place, even if the weight of the years weighs heavily on his shoulders.
And this is where we wonder: is this a heroic last gasp or simply a desperate attempt to avoid the inevitable?
With teammates like Malkin (38 years old) and Karlsson (34 years old), Kris Letang (37 years old), who also feel the weight of time, the future of the Penguins does not seem bright.
But hey, try telling that to Crosby. He would probably respond by scoring a breakaway goal.
It must be said that the figures speak for themselves. Crosby may be aging, but he continues to produce.
With 39 points in 36 games, he remains the team's offensive pillar. And yet, we can't help but wonder if this production is enough to carry a club that clings to its glorious past.
And what about Crosby’s entourage? Mike Sullivan, always faithful behind the bench, seems determined to cling to his veterans like a shipwrecked man to a buoy.
The arrival of Erik Karlsson, supposed to revitalize the defense and give an offensive boost, looks more and more like a mirage.
So what's left? An aging team which still hopes that its old glories can reignite the flame.
But it's not all black. The Penguins have this uncanny ability to be reborn when all seems lost. They've done it in the past, and maybe they can do it again.
Maybe. Crosby, Malkin and Letang know what it takes to win. They've done it three times together, and their experience could still work in their favor.
But at what cost? How many more miles can Crosby add to his odometer before collapsing?
In this portrait tinged with nostalgia and forced optimism, there is an important lesson: Sidney Crosby does not know how to give up.
Even when everything seems against him, he persists. And therein lies his true legacy. He refuses to let his team go down without a fight.
And it doesn't matter if that means exhausting yourself trying to catch up with escaping youth.
So, are the Penguins on the brink? Maybe. But with Crosby at the helm, there remains a spark of hope.
And who knows? Maybe this season, against all odds, Pittsburgh will find a way to sneak into the playoffs. And if it does, it will be thanks to the stubbornness that has defined Sidney Crosby's entire career.
For now, let's enjoy this renewed life. Because even though the Penguins aren't going anywhere this season, they remind us why we love this sport: for the stories of resilience, hope and, sometimes, miracles.
And Sidney Crosby, despite everything, remains one of the greatest tellers of these stories.
To be continued…
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