Even then, their prospects were shaky because they couldn't wring more revenue out of aging Mellon Arena, built in 1961 and affectionately known as the Igloo. Less than three years ago they were threatening to leave Steeltown for Las Vegas or Kansas City if they didn't get help financing a new arena.
With leadership at the negotiating table from co-owner Ron Burkle, the California equity-firm billionaire who gave Lemieux $20 million to complete the purchase of the franchise, an arena deal was done in March 2007. Rising across the street from the Igloo, the girders last week were draped with a huge banner featuring images of Crosby, Malkin and Marc-Andre Fleury.
The words "Stanley Cup champions" can be worked onto that banner without much trouble.
All of which proves that there's hope in even the darkest situations. Kings fans, take note. About the scouting and drafting parts, anyway, if not the involved ownership.
It's traditional for rivals to copy the Cup champion's style, but the Penguins' makeup and mode are difficult to mimic without winning the draft lottery and getting a Crosby, as they did in 2005.
It's still possible to play the up-tempo, aggressive style Coach Dan Bylsma installed when he took over Feb. 15, and it's entertaining without sacrificing physicality.
General Manager Ray Shero deserves credit for supplementing the skills of Crosby, Malkin and defenseman Sergei Gonchar with role players such as Chris Kunitz, Ruslan Fedotenko, Bill Guerin and Hal Gill.
The Penguins' victory should also inspire general managers to take chances on young coaches instead of recycling duds such as Marc Crawford, Jacques Martin and Mike Keenan. Bylsma is only the second rookie coach to win the Cup after taking over during the season, joining Al MacNeil of the 1970-71 Montreal Canadiens. He's fresh and young, and his team responded to him.
Salary cap permitting, that team could compete at a high level for years to come. "That's a great thought and it's a dream," Bylsma said soon after the finale.
"Come September we'll get ready to start building the foundation again for what this team could possibly do, but that's a whole different thing right now. We're going to enjoy this one."
It was a season to enjoy and savor on many levels.
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helene.elliott@latimes.com
