Retired Player Mike Rupp Thinks Penguins Have Look Of Stanley Cup Contender
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The Fan) - NHL Network Analyst and former Pittsburgh Penguins player Mike Rupp joined the Cook and Poni Show on Wednesday to discuss the Pens' turnaround that has them heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs as one of the hottest team's in the league.
The guys asked Rupp, who won the Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils, if this Penguins team has the look of a contender.
"Yeah I think so," Rupp said. "I think they definitely do. There is still a lot of work to be had."
Rupp says one of the most impressive things about this recent surge is that they are doing it without key superstar players like Evgeni Malkin and Marc-Andre Fleury.
"Adding him [Malkin] to this would be huge," Rupp said. "Hopefully, at some point Geno can get in there. The thing that has been impressing me is that Kessel has been better not playing with the superstar."
He joked and said maybe Geno would be scratched when he comes back, but says they will need him and Fleury if they want to make a deep Stanley Cup run.
"I have confidence in Matt Murray," Rupp added. "I think he can get by a round or two, but you need to get Marc-Andre Fleury back if you have any Stanley Cup aspirations."
Rupp said the Washington Capitals are still the team to beat, but the Pens are making a case, and he thinks the best first-round opponent could be the New York Islanders.
Listen to the full interview here:
