I actually forgot that the Penguins drafted their goalie Marc-Andre Fleury as their #1 pick in 2003 too! He was instrumental to their four final appearances (they won three).
So the Penguins picked Fleury as #1 in 2003, Malkin as #2 in 2004, and Crosby as #1 in 2005.
I also forgot that the Blackhawks had success in a similar way! Jonathan Toews was #3 in 2006 and Patrick Kane was #1 in 2007. They won three cups in 2010, 2013, and 2015 after decades of not winning.
Crikey I didn’t know that! So that’s Crosby’s origin story
I actually forgot that the Penguins drafted their goalie Marc-Andre Fleury as their #1 pick in 2003 too! He was instrumental to their four final appearances (they won three).
So the Penguins picked Fleury as #1 in 2003, Malkin as #2 in 2004, and Crosby as #1 in 2005.
I also forgot that the Blackhawks had success in a similar way! Jonathan Toews was #3 in 2006 and Patrick Kane was #1 in 2007. They won three cups in 2010, 2013, and 2015 after decades of not winning.