After winning the second Stanley Cup of his career, Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford was asked about his future, responding only with his plans for later this week - watching golf.
Is Jim Rutherford going to walk away and go out in a blaze of glory? Rutherford: "I'm going to the U.S. Open." The Cup will be at Oakmont.
The 67-year-old's second championship comes ten years after he led the Carolina Hurricanes to their first and only Cup victory in 2006.
Rutherford made a number of moves in the past year contributing to the Penguins' success, including the acquisitions of Phil Kessel, Nick Bonino, and Trevor Daley, as well as a mid-season coaching change where he hired Mike Sullivan.
So said San Jose Sharks coach Pete DeBoer, who credited his team for giving their all in the six-game series loss.
"I think first off, you have to give full credit to Pittsburgh. I thought they came out and played a hell of a series," DeBoer told reporters following Game 6 Sunday. "They played their game for much longer stretches than we were able to. They dictated the play. They started quicker than us. That's the reason they're holding the Cup.
"On our end, I'm very proud of our group. I thought our guys emptied the tank, gave us everything they possibly could. We weren't as good as them during this two-week period."
DeBoer added that the Sharks should be proud of what they accomplished after advancing to the final for the first time in their 25-year history, and following several misses along the way.
"Only one team can win. That doesn't take anything away from what those guys accomplished. I don't think anyone should ever question the leadership or the character or the will of the group of men in there. I think it's been misplaced for a decade. I would hope they answered some questions."
Those questions revolved mainly around Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, both of whom remain under contract for one more season.
Kadri ensured he'd remain a central component in Toronto's intent to capture similar glory shortly after his season ended, when he pledged another six years to the team that drafted him.
After winning the fourth championship in franchise history, here are the best photos from the celebration after the Pittsburgh Penguins' Stanley Cup victory:
The postseason injury report has already started trickling in.
First on the docket is Kris Letang, who reportedly went under the knife to treat a foot infection prior to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.
The Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman averaged close to 30 minutes of ice time throughout the course of the six-game series, and scored the game-winning goal in the championship-clinching contest Sunday night.
For the series, he recorded a goal and four assists in six games.
Clearly he was able to put his best foot forward against a tough San Jose Sharks opponent.
Forced to end his playing career due to a medical condition relating to blood clots earlier in the season, the veteran forward was present in San Jose as the Penguins came out on top of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final Sunday night,
Dupuis, joining his teammates on the ice in full uniform to celebrate, was the third member of the Penguins to hoist the Cup, following captain Sidney Crosby and injured defenseman Trevor Daley.
He was also a key member of Pittsburgh's 2009 championship squad.
The Pittsburgh Penguins won their fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history Sunday night, bringing them within two championships of their neighbors, the Steelers.
One of the more polarizing figures in the NHL enjoyed a moment no one can ever take away, hoisting the Stanley Cup chalice Sunday in San Jose after the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Sharks in six games.
Kessel was essential to the Penguins' run, leading the team in scoring with 10 goals and 22 points in the tournament.
Shortly after earning the Conn Smythe Trophy for Playoff MVP, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby hoisted the Stanley Cup for the second time in his career, exactly seven years since his last championship in 2009.
He then passed the Cup off to defenseman Trevor Daley - who was sidelined with a broken ankle suffered during the Eastern Conference Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Patrick Roy, Ron Hextall, Cam Ward, and now, Matt Murray.
After winning the Stanley Cup on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins' goaltender is into the record books with his 15th victory of the spring, tying the NHL rookie record for wins in a single playoff year.
Yeah, stellar company for a kid who turned 22 on May 25.
Goalie
Age
Year
SV%
GAA
Starts
Record
Roy*
20
1986
.923
1.92
20
15-5
Hextall
22
1987
.908
2.77
26
15-11
Ward*
21
2006
.920
2.14
23
15-8
Murray*
21
2016
.923
2.08
21
15-6
* Won Stanley Cup
Murray made only 13 starts during the regular season, though he certainly proved himself, posting a .930 save percentage and finishing with a 9-2-1 record.
The Thunder Bay, Ontario native was thrust into action in Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the New York Rangers after third-string Penguins goalie Jeff Zatkoff started Games 1 and 2 in place of a concussed Marc-Andre Fleury.
A head injury of his own kept Murray from dressing in Games 1 and 2, but once he got into the crease, he owned it. Murray won his three starts against the Rangers, with the Penguins advancing in five games. He stopped 85 of the 89 shots the Blueshirts threw at him, showing remarkable poise in what was a pressure-packed situation.
Murray kept the net in the second round, even though Fleury was deemed healthy before Game 3 against the Washington Capitals. Not having played for so long, the Penguins were weary of tossing Fleury into action, and Murray rewarded their faith in him, posting a .926 save percentage in Pittsburgh's six-game series win over the high-flying Caps. Murray went 2-1 in overtime games in the series, again showing serious mettle for a young goalie on the game's brightest stage.
The third round was Murray's worst. He struggled in three of Pittsburgh's first four games against the Tampa Bay Lightning, eventually being pulled in favor of Fleury in Game 4. Fleury got the start in Game 5 of a 2-2 series, but the Penguins lost 4-3 in overtime, with Fleury stopping only 21 of 25 shots.
With their season and Cup dreams on the line, the Penguins went back to Murray in a must-win Game 6. He stopped 28 of 30 shots on the road as Pittsburgh forced a Game 7 back in Pittsburgh. The Penguins, of course, won Game 7, and Murray stopped a combined 44 of 47 shots in the elimination games - the biggest contests of his career.
Murray was a rock in the Stanley Cup Final against the San Jose Sharks, allowing more than two goals in a game only twice.
It was undoubtedly a spring to remember. The best spring of Matt Murray's life.
