Let us now assume that all the hurdles have been cleared, and that some
time around the start of the New Year, Mario Lemieux comes back and plays with the
Pittsburgh Penguins. Let us also make the safe assumption that even after the longest
delay of his career, Lemieux comes back as a top-level player.
Mind you, we're not even assuming the best player in the world, but an
impact player who can change the fortunes of a game. A player who can change the
fortunes of a team.
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The addition of Lemieux is going to change a lot in the East. It might make the Buffalo Sabres more likely to settle their contract problems with Michael Peca, and perhaps even make the Flyers try to get whatever they can recover for the rights to Eric Lindros. ” |
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— Morganti on Lemieux's impact on the Eastern Conference |
The next question is whether or not he can change the fortunes of a whole
season. Will Mario Lemieux's return seriously alter the chances of winning the Eastern
Conference, and perhaps influence who will be crowned Stanley Cup champion in
2001?
Take a look at the East, and you see a conference in which the Stanley Cup
champion New Jersey Devils remain the favorite to at least reach the finals.
However, the addition of Lemieux to the Pittsburgh lineup has a direct affect on the
Devils.
Go back to last spring, the Penguins had a 2-0 lead on the
Philadelphia Flyers, and won those first two games in Philadelphia. The Penguins then went
down in flames, losing the series. One loss was a five-overtime los crusher.
Do you really think a team with both Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr would blow a lead
like that? If the Penguins got past the Flyers last spring, the next team in the
way was the Devils.
If those two teams meet in the 2001 playoffs, the double whammy of
Lemieux and Jagr would be a tough match for New Jersey's power game up front with Jason Arnott and Bobby Holik.
The bigger issue with Lemiuex's potential on-ice impact will be special teams. By all standards of reason,
Lemieux will be a major factor on power plays and penalty killing. Assuming that the NHL
continues its more strident manner of calling penalties, special teams will be even more
important in the playoffs, in which case the Penguins would be a huge problem for any team.
Remember, there is a secondary issue at work here -- and that is what
happens when no penalties are called. Teams will have their choice of poison, either
back off Lemieux and Jagr for fear of taking a penalty -- in which case there is
more open ice -- or play more physically and risk the penalty -- in which case Lemieux
and Jagr get the power play.
The Devils still have the more balanced team, a proven goalie in Martin
Brodeur, and a defense which boasts the physical hammering provided by Scott Stevens, along with the trap-breaking speed of Brian Rafalski and Scott Niedermayer. However, the
Penguins will have a chance against any team with two towers called Lemieux and Jagr.
North of the border, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators must
also be casting a wary eye toward Pittsburgh. The bonus of getting Lemieux back in
Pittsburgh is still not as crucial as Alexei Yashin back in Ottawa, and the questionable
goaltending of Pittsburgh and Ottawa would make for more than a breathtaking series of offensive plays.
Meanwhile, any matchup with the Leafs would again push goalie Curtis
Joseph into the spotlight, and the dark horse in the East remains the Buffalo
Sabres. You want a fitting end to the Eastern Conference playoffs? How about Lemieux and his team of
Czechs get Czech-mated by Buffalo goalie Dominik Hasek?
The addition of Lemieux is going to change a lot in the
East. It might make the Buffalo Sabres more likely to settle their contract
problems with Michael Peca, and perhaps even make the Flyers try to get whatever they can
recover for the rights to Eric Lindros.
And come playoff time, the fear of playing the Buffalo Sabres because of
Hasek could be equaled by the fear of playing the Penguins with Lemieux.
Al Morganti covers the NHL for ESPN.
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ALSO SEE
Super comeback: Lemieux confirms return to ice
Pang: Lemieux sees kinder, gentler NHL
Mario Lemieux: Career chronology
AUDIO VIDEO
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