Joe Starkey

We're going back to the 80s and then the early 70s to find unlikely playoff teams to this degree in Pittsburgh sports.

The 06-07 Penguins, and this goes back to the point of Sid Gino Letang and how long they've done it and how high of a level they're still playing at.

And I really think Letang, something about that Gerrard combo, has sparked him late in the year.

Listen to some of the names on that team.

Mark Eaton, he's been working like in, I think, the Blackhawks or somebody's front office for like a decade now.

Niels Ekman, Sergei Gonchar, John Leclerc, Bugsy Malone, Joseph Melikar, Brooks Orpik.

He's been out of hockey for a few years now.

Mark Recchi, Gary Roberts, Bob Scuderi, The Peace, Max Talbot.

He has more gray hair than Ron right now.

Jocelyn Tebow, Ryan Whitney.

He's been doing spitting chiclets for like 10 years, it feels like.

That might even be true.

I don't know.

Three guys from that team are not just still playing.

Let's start with Sid.

Not just still playing, but I wouldn't be surprised if in the next couple days we again see where NHL players vote him the best all-around player in the whole league again.

Best 200-foot player.

It happens every year.

Geno has looked unstoppable at times.

And that narrative, oh, he's mad about his contract and that's going to affect his play all the way down.