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The 2016 Penguins Were The Best Team Of This Decade

Created by: AnalyticsGeek
Team: 2019-20 Pittsburgh Penguins
Initial Creation Date: Apr. 9, 2020
Published: Apr. 9, 2020
Salary Cap Mode: Basic
Description
In my opinion, the 2016 Pittsburgh Penguins were the best team of this past decade. Though they were perhaps not the most stacked team on paper, their on ice performance was truly an exceptional & dominant effort. Just look at the stats!

In the 2015-16 playoffs, the Penguins had a 52% Corsi, a 55% shot differential, a 57% goal differential, a 56% expected goal differential, a 53% scoring chance differential & a 55% high danger chance differential. The 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks did put up very close numbers, but they had a much lower scoring chance & high danger scoring chance differential.

I will concede that the Los Angeles Kings put up better numbers in terms of goal scores & expected goals while the possession & scoring chance numbers were similar, but I still think the Penguins have the edge because they had a more difficult road to win. While the Kings manhandled the Presidents trophy winners & defending Western champs Vancouver in the first round, they didn’t really face such elite teams afterward in St Louis, Phoenix & New Jersey. The Penguins had to get past the same Rangers team that made it to the finals in 2013-14 & won the Presidents trophy in 2014-15, the Presidents trophy winning Washington Capitals & the defending Eastern Champions in Tampa. I don’t understand why everyone says the Penguins had an easy road to the cup, they had just as tough of a road as the 2013 Blackhawks, if not more. So for these reasons, I think the 2016 Pens team was the best of this decade performance-wise.
Free Agent Signings
CREATEDYEARSCAP HIT
Kunitz, Chris
2$3,750,000
Cullen, Matt
1$800,000
Fehr, Eric
3$2,000,000
Lovejoy, Ben
1$1,200,000
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DraftRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Round 7
2020
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2021
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2022
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ROSTER SIZESALARY CAPCAP HITOVERAGES TooltipBONUSESCAP SPACE
23$81,500,000$91,857,391$132,500$0-$10,357,391
Left WingCentreRight Wing
Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
$3,000,000$3,000,000
LW, RW
UFA - 1
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$8,700,000$8,700,000
C
NMC
UFA - 6
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$5,300,000$5,300,000
RW
NTC
UFA - 4
Kunitz, Chris
$3,750,000$3,750,000
Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
$9,500,000$9,500,000
C
NMC
UFA - 3
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$3,500,000$3,500,000
RW, LW
UFA - 3
Logo of the Washington Capitals
$2,750,000$2,750,000
LW
UFA - 4
Logo of the Nashville Predators
$4,100,000$4,100,000
C, LW
UFA - 2
Logo of the Arizona Coyotes
$6,800,000$6,800,000
RW
M-NTC, NMC
UFA - 3
Logo of the New York Islanders
$850,000$850,000
RW
UFA - 1
Cullen, Matt
$800,000$800,000
Fehr, Eric
$2,000,000$2,000,000
Left DefenseRight DefenseGoaltender
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$4,100,000$4,100,000
LD
M-NTC
UFA - 4
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$7,250,000$7,250,000
RD
M-NTC, NMC
UFA - 3
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$3,750,000$3,750,000
G
UFA - 1
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$3,333,225$3,333,225
LD
UFA - 3
Logo of the Detroit Red Wings
$3,166,666$3,166,666
RD
M-NTC
UFA - 1
Lovejoy, Ben
$1,200,000$1,200,000
Logo of the Vegas Golden Knights
$3,500,000$3,500,000
G
M-NTC
UFA - 3
Logo of the Colorado Avalanche
$3,450,000$3,450,000
LD/RD
UFA - 2
ScratchesInjured Reserve (IR)Long Term IR (LTIR)
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$4,500,000$4,500,000
LW, RW
UFA - 5
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$3,500,000$3,500,000
LW, RW
M-NTC
UFA - 6
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$750,000$750,000
RW, LW
UFA - 1
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$700,000$700,000
RD
UFA - 2
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$5,500,000$5,500,000
RD
M-NTC
UFA - 1
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$850,000$850,000
LD
UFA - 1
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$874,125$874,125
LD
UFA - 1
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$3,250,000$3,250,000
LD
UFA - 4
Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
$925,000$925,000 (Performance Bonus$850,000$850K)
RD
UFA - 2
Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
$5,500,000$5,500,000
LW, RW
M-NTC
UFA - 4
Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
$2,050,000$2,050,000
C, RW
UFA - 2
Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
$1,250,000$1,250,000
C, LW
UFA - 1
Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
$675,000$675,000
G
UFA - 1
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$2,000,000$2,000,000
LW, C
UFA - 1
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$750,000$750,000
C, LW
UFA - 2
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$700,000$700,000
LW, C
UFA - 1
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$1,000,000$1,000,000
LW, RW
UFA - 2
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$767,500$767,500 (Performance Bonus$132,500$132K)
RW, C, LW
UFA - 1
Logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins
$833,750$833,750
C, RW
UFA - 1

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Apr. 9, 2020 at 6:46 p.m.
#26
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Quoting: Sidstick87
Easily Yes it was.... If Sid, Geno, & Letang could have all stayed healthy, they go down as the best Core ever in modern NHL (since 70's) - & They win at least 1 or 2 more Cups too.


There is no way that compares to Gretzky, Messier, Coffey plus Kurri.

Crosby and Malkin certainly deserve their place in the greatest of all times. But nobody takes them over Gretzky/Messier.

Coffey is one of the best defenseman if all time. Letang is one of the best of his generation. Big difference.

Plus there is no Kurri

Honestly I'd take Yzerman/Lidstrom plus chose who you want depending when (Federico/Chelios/etc). I would even consider Sakic, Forsberg, and Blake, but I think I'd take the pens over the AVS there
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Apr. 9, 2020 at 7:22 p.m.
#27
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Quoting: BCAPP
Thank you. That's my point.

There was also a Chicago team at some point that was crazy good. But yeah that Tampa team was stacked.

They choked hard. Doesn't change that they were the best


IT WAS 2014 AND THE KINGS SCORED THE GAME TYING GOAL IN GAME 7 OF THE WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS ON AN OFFSIDES PLAY THAT WOULDVE BEEN REVERSED IF CHALLENGEABLE AND THE HAWKS WOULDVE BEATEN THE RANGERS AND 3PEATED... I mean. Yeah
Apr. 9, 2020 at 7:24 p.m.
#28
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Quoting: ZPirtle
Colton Sissons scored. That's all I have to say. smile


I’m talking about 2016, not 2017.
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Apr. 9, 2020 at 7:25 p.m.
#29
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Quoting: BCAPP
That's not what the title says nor the first sentence.

Perhaps be clearer.

If you said they were the best performing playoff team of the decade I wouldn't have said a work.

They clicked. They had the HBK line. Murray was awesome. No arguments.


Best performing playoff team = best team
Apr. 9, 2020 at 8:25 p.m.
#30
Hockey IQ
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Quoting: mhockey91
Maybe on paper but the way this team played together was incredible. 2016 pens dominated and controlled possession their entire post season run.


Quoting: mhockey91
Maybe on paper it was better, but clearly, the 2016 Pens had incredible chemistry and had an incredible run in the 2016 playoffs. This team was legit



Yes by performance. #HBK4ever San Jose was really no match for the pens speed. 2013 was better on paper but they botched it. This team didn’t. Best pens team of the decade!
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Apr. 9, 2020 at 8:28 p.m.
#31
Hockey IQ
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Quoting: BCAPP
There is no way that compares to Gretzky, Messier, Coffey plus Kurri.

Crosby and Malkin certainly deserve their place in the greatest of all times. But nobody takes them over Gretzky/Messier.

Coffey is one of the best defenseman if all time. Letang is one of the best of his generation. Big difference.

Plus there is no Kurri

Honestly I'd take Yzerman/Lidstrom plus chose who you want depending when (Federico/Chelios/etc). I would even consider Sakic, Forsberg, and Blake, but I think I'd take the pens over the AVS there


I never saw Gretzky and co.
If they played in the modern NHL, Sid and Geno could win a 7 game series.
Apr. 9, 2020 at 8:29 p.m.
#32
Hockey IQ
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Whisper “you forgot me and pinged yourself...because you copied and pasted my post.” Lol 😂
It’s ok I read them all anyway.
Good ACGM BTW!
Apr. 9, 2020 at 8:32 p.m.
#33
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Quoting: csick
No the 2013 one with Neal, Iginla etc. That was a beast of a team, still can’t believe they got swept by Boston. That team had the best offence I’ve ever seen


Quoting: Yojimbo
I still can'[t believe that the Pens had Iginla, and the clown-shoes of a coach played him off wing./quote]

Sid said in a press conference after they got Iggy he liked his line mates and Coach took it like a Supreme Court ruling.
The pens traded for a winger to play with Sid and he didn’t play with Sid. Sound familiar?
Still ridiculous.
Apr. 9, 2020 at 8:35 p.m.
#34
Hockey IQ
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Quoting: ZPirtle
Colton Sissons scored. That's all I have to say. smile


Quoting: MitchMarnerElite
I’m talking about 2016, not 2017.


“Under video review, it has been determined that the play was blown dead prior to the goal being scored therefore we have no goal.”
Way to go refs!
Dillusional fans.
#smashtrashville2017
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Apr. 9, 2020 at 9:05 p.m.
#35
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Quoting: Pens3lieve
Whisper “you forgot me and pinged yourself...because you copied and pasted my post.” Lol 😂
It’s ok I read them all anyway.
Good ACGM BTW!


Yes you are right. Thank you!
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Apr. 9, 2020 at 10:54 p.m.
#36
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Quoting: SlickWilly
IT WAS 2014 AND THE KINGS SCORED THE GAME TYING GOAL IN GAME 7 OF THE WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS ON AN OFFSIDES PLAY THAT WOULDVE BEEN REVERSED IF CHALLENGEABLE AND THE HAWKS WOULDVE BEATEN THE RANGERS AND 3PEATED... I mean. Yeah


Haha I think I may have hit a nerve. Haha
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Apr. 10, 2020 at 12:17 a.m.
#37
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Quoting: csick
No the 2013 one with Neal, Iginla etc. That was a beast of a team, still can’t believe they got swept by Boston. That team had the best offence I’ve ever seen


I don't know how anyone could have watched how MAF played in the series and then not believe they got swept. The emergency goalie could have played better.
Apr. 10, 2020 at 12:23 a.m.
#38
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I'd still like to think the 92 team would beat the snot out of all the others.
Lets be honest. the 2013+ teams only work with 2013 rules.
Lets play 92 rules hockey and see how they do.
Swallow the whistle and go. I think these modern teams leave frustrated.

But if it's the decade. I think the 2016 was just so much faster than the rest of the league it's hard to not think they were the best team. No one was even close to keeping up with them.
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Apr. 10, 2020 at 12:02 p.m.
#39
Hockey God Genius
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Quoting: BCAPP
There is no way that compares to Gretzky, Messier, Coffey plus Kurri.

Crosby and Malkin certainly deserve their place in the greatest of all times. But nobody takes them over Gretzky/Messier.

Coffey is one of the best defenseman if all time. Letang is one of the best of his generation. Big difference.

Plus there is no Kurri

Honestly I'd take Yzerman/Lidstrom plus chose who you want depending when (Federico/Chelios/etc). I would even consider Sakic, Forsberg, and Blake, but I think I'd take the pens over the AVS there


If Sid / Geno / Letang would have stayed healthy they would be one of the best cores ever.... Yes 99, 11, 77 were the best but they would have been a very close 2nd if they stayed healthy - bc Sid missed like 2 strait seasons w/ concussion & another 1/2 season w/ other injuries, Letang has missed like 3-4 seasons combined, & Geno missed a fair share also. We have had such bad luck with 1 of those 3 each missing time in every playoff series that we lost... Shoot- I still have no clue how we won that Cup w/out Letang out from the trade deadline in 17', lol.
Apr. 10, 2020 at 12:06 p.m.
#40
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Quoting: BCAPP
They choked hard and the pens came together and succeeded. One won the cup and deserves it. But the other team was a better team. They just choked.


Honestly - Dont tell other Pens fans - but i did love that TB team... They really were like a perfect team that yr.
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Apr. 10, 2020 at 3:39 p.m.
#41
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Quoting: Sidstick87
If Sid / Geno / Letang would have stayed healthy they would be one of the best cores ever.... Yes 99, 11, 77 were the best but they would have been a very close 2nd if they stayed healthy - bc Sid missed like 2 strait seasons w/ concussion & another 1/2 season w/ other injuries, Letang has missed like 3-4 seasons combined, & Geno missed a fair share also. We have had such bad luck with 1 of those 3 each missing time in every playoff series that we lost... Shoot- I still have no clue how we won that Cup w/out Letang out from the trade deadline in 17', lol.


No arguments on one of the best.

But honestly Letang is a step below the rest.

Those other guys are all legends. Letang is just one of the best now.
Apr. 10, 2020 at 3:53 p.m.
#42
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Quoting: BCAPP
No arguments on one of the best.

But honestly Letang is a step below the rest.

Those other guys are all legends. Letang is just one of the best now.


I have to say... I totally disagree about Letang... I have never missed 1 second of a Pens Hockey game since 1990... (except when we sucked bf drafting Sid / Geno / Flower, lol) but IMO Letang is an all time great..
I would say that Letang is maybe the most important player of Sid / Geno / Letang ... If u really watch this team, u would know that Tanger is the engine of the Pens... does he make a bone head
play once a game... yah he does, but he also plays 25-30 min every nite too tho .... and he doesn't get half the credit he should for how good he is defensively too.
why do u think that every team goes after him non-stop every game.... Its bc coaches kno he is the key to the Pens success.
Apr. 10, 2020 at 4:21 p.m.
#43
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Quoting: Sidstick87
I have to say... I totally disagree about Letang... I have never missed 1 second of a Pens Hockey game since 1990... (except when we sucked bf drafting Sid / Geno / Flower, lol) but IMO Letang is an all time great..
I would say that Letang is maybe the most important player of Sid / Geno / Letang ... If u really watch this team, u would know that Tanger is the engine of the Pens... does he make a bone head
play once a game... yah he does, but he also plays 25-30 min every nite too tho .... and he doesn't get half the credit he should for how good he is defensively too.
why do u think that every team goes after him non-stop every game.... Its bc coaches kno he is the key to the Pens success.


You are right on all those points on Letang & he is one of the more underrated defenders of this era, but unfortunately, I don’t think he will make the Hall Of Fame. Maybe he wasn’t good enough, but most likely he just didn’t get the hype for playing in an American market that was original 6. Due to that reason alone, he’ll never get mentioned in the same sentence as the likes of Coffey, Bourque & Lidstrom.
Apr. 10, 2020 at 7:07 p.m.
#44
claysbar
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After the coaching change there was an absolute Zen to the team and they could do no wrong.
Apr. 14, 2020 at 3:12 p.m.
#45
Pengweenies
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Quoting: BCAPP
They choked hard and the pens came together and succeeded. One won the cup and deserves it. But the other team was a better team. They just choked.


tampa was a good team because they won a lot in regular season. Pens were a GREAT team because they won the hardest trophy to win in all of competitive team sports

great > good

16 pens are better
 
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