Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. (You readers from Canada and around the globe are included in those wishes.)
The Penguins have been a little up and down this season, but here in mailbag land, we strive for consistency.
Lots of great questions this month. Part 2 will arrive on Friday. Away we go …
Note: Some questions and answers have been slightly edited for clarity and style.
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Have any sports franchises been better in the last 20 years than the Pens? Has it been better to be a fan of any other team? The competition would be the Patriots, Golden State, Red Sox, maybe a few I’m forgetting? Success, but also consistency, star power, drama, likability, never in any trouble? — @CBbA614C
Well, likability is a tricky thing. But maybe you’re onto something.
On the surface, the Patriots are the obvious answer. They’ve won six Super Bowls this century, and reached a couple of others. Sure, they were lumped in with their share of scandals, Bill Belichick is almost as famous for being unlikable as he is a great coach and Tom Brady used to walk around Boston wearing a Yankees hat. But it’s not like people in Boston celebrated any less on those winter nights when they were crowned champions.
That said, I think, as time goes on, Boston fans will have to acknowledge that some of the other great teams in Boston history — and there have been many — had far more likable characters, were much easier to root for, didn’t make them question themselves. Brady is the most famous person from those teams and maybe the best player in history. However, a true Bostonian will tell you that Boston never felt the love for Brady that it did for Ted Williams, Bobby Orr or Larry Bird. They admired Brady, yes, but I don’t think he ever felt like one of them the way the other names did. (Preparing for emails from Boston fans who will tell me off with great passion.)
Golden State has been incredibly successful for the past decade, but that certainly wasn’t the case before. They do rank high on the likability scale, so long as Draymond Green isn’t headlocking people.
This brings us to the Penguins. They’re clearly the most successful NHL franchise this century. No question. They’re also incredibly likable for this fan base. Sidney Crosby is as close to a saint as a human can be. I’d argue the only Pittsburgh athletes who have been more beloved in Western Pennsylvania than Crosby are Mario Lemieux and Roberto Clemente, but Crosby is closer to their division than anyone else. Go down the list. There was some Matt Cooke drama, but even then, the Penguins handled it well and got him help.
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In terms of a fan base feeling pride for the people it is cheering for and witnessing all-time greats win championships, yeah, a case can be made that Penguins fans have had it better than anyone during the past 20 years.
We’re approaching that time of year when, if your team isn’t in a playoff spot, they’re deemed unlikely to snag one. Early in the calendar as it still is, what are your thoughts on this confounding hockey club’s postseason prospects? — @penspod_JT
Good question, my friend. I feel the same about them as I did before the season started. I think Carolina, the Rangers and the Devils are better. So, the Penguins are likely fighting for a wild card spot.
Were I a betting man, I’d bet on them being a wild card team when it’s all said and done. The big guys are still great. The goaltending depth is better. The GM is better, which means help is likely on the way.
Now that he’s been on the job for five-plus months, any thoughts on how Kyle Dubas works compared to Ron Hextall and GMJR (Jim Rutherford)? Anything that you’d like to see from him that you haven’t yet? — @sameoldcircuit
It’s early to say, but I’m impressed with him. He’s one of those people who, after speaking with him for two minutes, you immediately recognize that his intelligence is rare. Just a brilliant guy. Everyone in the organization really, really likes him, too. I remain firm in my belief that it was a great hire.
Post Big 3 era … do you feel this ownership group will spend the cash to avoid the team failing off the face of the earth? — @irishaj1983
Yes. Fenway wants to win. It’s pretty clear.
We need an astrological breakdown of the Penguins season so far. — @SaraCivian
I clearly need to write an expansive article about this. But here’s a tidbit. I’m writing an article on the Thanksgiving Eve home game tradition in Pittsburgh. It’s always the best crowd of the year in Pittsburgh. Rowdy. Friends getting together for the holiday. Drinks flowing.
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Evgeni Malkin, a Leo (they love attention, don’t you know), on the Thanksgiving Eve game? Ten career games, nine goals, 20 points, an overtime winner and two shootout winners, the last of which saw him throw his stick into the crowd after scoring. You know he loves the crowd on those nights.
Who is the best Pittsburgh sports media person to hang out with and have a drink? Excluding yourself. — @shwagy3
Oh, wow. There are so many, honestly. I’ll exclude The Athletic employees just to make Mark Kaboly and Rob Rossi mad. But I’ll say that Bob Pompeani is the nicest guy you’ll ever meet. Also, I sit beside Mark Madden during home games in the press box, and I know Mark is a polarizing character, but there’s no one I’d rather sit with. We pretty much just laugh all game long and he’s actually a really good guy.
Matt Canada or Kenny Pickett? Who’s the bigger issue? — @JeffBruder
You know as well as I that the answer is both. I don’t know why people need to pick sides.
Canada has proven himself to be an incompetent coordinator. Pickett doesn’t have the physical skill set necessary to win. We know this because people always say things like, “Maybe he could be another Kirk Cousins!”
They say this because they’re trying to talk themselves into thinking he’s something that he’s not.
Also, what has Kirk Cousins ever won? (One playoff game in 12 seasons.)
Josh, do the Steelers draft a quarterback in 2024? Thanks. I’ll hang up and listen. — @chuck_hardwood
They won’t. Would I? Yeah, probably. But here’s the thing: You can’t just draft a quarterback in the second or third round and hope that he turns out to be good. More often than not, that doesn’t work.
I’m the aggressive type. I trade T.J. Watt and picks to move up to a top-three pick if I think a franchise quarterback is sitting there.
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Call me crazy if you wish. But that’s how I roll. (No knock on T.J. He’s a Hall of Famer. But they’ve never won a playoff game with him here. He’s in his seventh season. He turns 30 next year. Just saying.)
Coming to Pittsburgh Saturday night to see Anthony Jeselnik at the Benedum. Where should I eat beforehand? — @RatbearPSU
In the words of Steffi Graf when a fan screamed out a marriage proposal during a match, how much money do you have?
If you have a lot, go to Hyde Park and enjoy some fine steak.
Greater tradition: Football on Thanksgiving in Dallas and Detroit? Or hockey in Pittsburgh on Thanksgiving Eve? —@sullymygoodname
I mean, I’ll sound like a homer if I say Pittsburgh, though it is my favorite home game of the year. But let me ask, how great is that tradition if you live in Dallas or Detroit? Those season ticket holders never get to be at home on Thanksgiving. That has to suck.
What are your top three Thanksgiving side dishes? — @h_kirk6
Why do we have to stop at three? Green bean casserole is great. My mom makes this corn dish — it’s basically corn smothered in cheese — that I quite enjoy. I don’t know what it’s called, but it totally works. Stuffing. (But not if it’s got celery in it. My grandma always made it without celery because I’d throw a fit otherwise. Ha.)
Oh, and for all of those who asked, I think cranberry sauce is gross. But this makes me sad. I want to like it so badly. But I just don’t.
As always, the Penguins could use some muscle. Since reacquiring Ryan Reaves is out (thanks Sully) where can the Pens find the NHL version of Tim “Dr. Hook” McCracken, Clarence “Screaming Buffalo” Swamptown, Andre “Poodle” Lussier or Ogie Ogilthorpe? — @Rickey1406
This is a good reminder for everyone. Sure, football on Thanksgiving is great. Spending time with friends and family is great (usually). But nothing says the holidays like watching “Slap Shot” for the 300th time.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
(Top photo of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
