Phil Kessel's not the only one with a redemption story.
With the Pittsburgh Penguins' title triumph in Game 6 on Sunday, Jim Rutherford - a man many believed was watching the game pass him by - joined Tommy Gorman as the second general manager in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup with two different franchises.
Pittsburgh hired Rutherford two years ago, a few weeks after he was squeezed out of his role with the Carolina Hurricanes. He brought drastic and often contentious changes to the organization he inherited from Ray Shero.
Here's a rundown of Rutherford's feverish work since taking the job:
Looking back, Rutherford's series of transactions is quite remarkable, but it wasn't long ago that his every move was questioned. The Penguins bowed out in five games to the New York Rangers in his first postseason at the helm, and the team appeared better suited to taking a step back.
But, committed to the Penguins' core, Rutherford remained aggressive and hit with five major acquisitions this season. His incredible run included landing all three components of Pittsburgh's "HBK Line" - a unit that combined for 56 points in the postseason - and a new-look defense that surrounded Kris Letang with similarly elusive but much less expensive puck movers.
At times, it seemed as though Rutherford was making impulsive and even reckless decisions about his roster. But Monday, there's absolutely no denying his impact, deliberate and otherwise.
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The blueprint's becoming more and more obvious: Own the puck and a Stanley Cup may follow.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are champions for the fourth time in franchise history and they were crowned on account of their speed and puck-possession skills:
Past five Cup champions' rankings in score-adjusted Corsi: 2nd, 3rd, 1st, 2nd, 2nd. Tough for even greatest skeptics not to see correlation.
— Matt Larkin (@THNMattLarkin) June 13, 2016
Pittburgh's 53 percent score-adjusted Corsi For rating at five on five in the regular season trailed only the Los Angeles Kings' 56.8 percent rating. And the Kings have certainly proven over the years that owning the puck correlates into success.
The Penguins finished the playoffs with a 51.6 percent score-adjusted Corsi For rating, which officially ranks fifth behind Florida, Dallas, Chicago, and the New York Rangers. The Panthers, though, played only six games, while the Blackhawks played seven, and the Blueshirts five. The Stars played 13 times, while the Penguins wrapped up their championship in 24 games.
Pittsburgh scored a playoffs-best 42 goals at even strength, while allowing 34. The San Jose Sharks finished the playoffs with a 50.7 percent score-adjusted Corsi For rating at even strength, and had the best goal differential at five on five, at plus-14.
(Statistics courtesy: War on Ice)
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Jacques Martin gets to raise the Cup for the first time in his coaching career and almost drops the cup. pic.twitter.com/tcWC8pbCUf
— Peter Alper (@peteralper99) June 13, 2016
After 30 years in the NHL, Jacques Martin finally got to hoist the Stanley Cup on Sunday night as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins - and nearly dropped it on national television.
Thankfully, head coach Mike Sullivan was there to catch it.
Martin told Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun prior to Game 6 that he'd like to bring the Cup to his old neighborhood in St. Pascal, Ont., if given the chance.
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What do you do after you win the Stanley Cup? Grab your cell phone and take a selfie with Phil Kessel and Carl Hagelin, of course.
Pittsburgh Penguins assistant captain Evgeni Malkin has got it down:
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/2qICHnUtwa
— Евгений Малкин (@malkin71_) June 13, 2016
It's been an emotional couple of weeks for Malkin, who became a father during the Stanley Cup Final. In his postgame interview, he thanked the Penguins organization for being understanding, especially in light of him not practicing as much as he normally would have been during the final.
"I happy guy," Malkin said.
As he should be.
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The Carolina Hurricanes agreed to a three-year entry-level contract with forward Sebastian Aho on Monday, the club announced.
Aho was drafted 35th overall in 2015, and had 20 goals and 25 assists in 45 games with Karpat in the Finnish Elite League this season, leading his team in scoring. He added four goals and 11 assists in 14 playoff games.
Only 18, Aho finished second in scoring at the World Junior Hockey Championship with five goals and nine assists in seven games, helping Finland win gold on home soil. He had three goals and four assists at the recently completed World Championship, in which Finland went home with silver.
The Hurricanes expect the teen to make the big club next season.
"Sebastian is regarded as one of the top prospects in hockey and is ready to begin his North American career," general manager Ron Francis said in a statement. "He had a tremendous season as an 18-year-old playing against men in Finland’s top league, and was outstanding in international competitions including the recent World Championship. He will play an important role for the Hurricanes moving forward."
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O M G. #Pens singing "We Are The Champions" in the locker room. pic.twitter.com/EjiZsLA3rO
— PensInsider (@ThePensInsider) June 13, 2016
Is Cuba Gooding Jr. the new Drake?
Hours after telling NBC's Jeremy Roenick that the San Jose Sharks needed to continue pounding Sidney Crosby in order to win - and also letting an expletive slip - a champagne-soaked Gooding Jr. was in the Pittsburgh Penguins room belting out Queen's "We Are The Champions."
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