A thought about the Pens....

**Arashi Kage** · 12-09-2003, 04:52 PM

Just a thought that hit me last night when I was thinking about the Pens and their current situation.

A "what-if" thought, unimportant, but leaves you wondering what may/could have been.

Craig Patrick's worst decision ever was to fire Scotty Bowman (correct me if I'm wrong, but if memory serves me right, he was fired) after the Pens were upset in 92-93 by the Islanders after being huge favorites to win the cup for the third straight time.

Scotty coached the Pens to the President's Cup and a franchise best 56-21-7 in 92-93, while Lemieux had 160pts, Stevens 111, Tocchet 109, Francis 100, and Jagr 94. Bowman had a .628 winning percentage during his 164 games with Pittsburgh, the best in Pens history.

Scotty then took over in Detroit, and the rest is history.

If Scotty had remained with the Pens, I do not know if the team would be better off now, but perhaps in the mid-late 90's the Pens might have won a few cups which may have resulted in a new arena, etc, and the team may be better now. Well, at least they have Fleury and wouldn't have him if the team hadn't fallen apart.

Sort of a useless post, but it's just a thought I had, the notorious "what-if" scenario.

12-09-2003, 04:52 PM	#1
Arashi Kage Painkiller Posts: 1,124	A thought about the Pens.... Just a thought that hit me last night when I was thinking about the Pens and their current situation. A "what-if" thought, unimportant, but leaves you wondering what may/could have been. Craig Patrick's worst decision ever was to fire Scotty Bowman (correct me if I'm wrong, but if memory serves me right, he was fired) after the Pens were upset in 92-93 by the Islanders after being huge favorites to win the cup for the third straight time. Scotty coached the Pens to the President's Cup and a franchise best 56-21-7 in 92-93, while Lemieux had 160pts, Stevens 111, Tocchet 109, Francis 100, and Jagr 94. Bowman had a .628 winning percentage during his 164 games with Pittsburgh, the best in Pens history. Scotty then took over in Detroit, and the rest is history. If Scotty had remained with the Pens, I do not know if the team would be better off now, but perhaps in the mid-late 90's the Pens might have won a few cups which may have resulted in a new arena, etc, and the team may be better now. Well, at least they have Fleury and wouldn't have him if the team hadn't fallen apart. Sort of a useless post, but it's just a thought I had, the notorious "what-if" scenario.