Give the Pens credit

RabidDog,

ESPN, reported, last time both cup finalist, swept the conference finals was 92, Pens and Blackhawks. still not there yet....neither wings or pens.

Excuse me if I'm wrong here, but didn't the Rangers miss the playoffs 7 straight years not all that long ago? Maybe you didn't finish last all those years, and maybe you didn't pick 1st or 2nd, but it seems like sucking hasn't paved the way to greatness for you guys.

Sure, having the opportunity to draft Fleury, Malkin, Crosby, and Staal would benefit any team, but they are far from the only reason why the Pens are where they are right now. It's called having a smart organization that also snatches up guys like, Malone, Orpik, Whitney, Letang, and Talbot. And making the correct moves in free agency and trades to bring in guys like Hossa, Sykora, Gill, and Gonchar. It's taking a look at the team as a whole and fitting together the right pieces of the puzzle.

The Pens were very smart in letting guys leave such as Jagr, Straka, and Kovalev knowing a lock out and potential salary cap was looming. Sure it drained the talent pool of the team and brought about some bad seasons, but was the smart thing to do with the "new NHL" coming.

I guess the Pens should do it the Rangers way and just run out and grab every high priced free agent they can. Oh wait, that doesn't work very well does it? 

Ov, the West being better than the East isn't so anymore. They're very close, with the bulk of the best young talent in the East. However, I will say the Wings seem to stand head and shoulders above everyone in both conferences.