NHL: Top 5 best moments of the past decade

Pittsburgh Penguins win back to back Stanley Cups in the salary cap era – 2016 & 2017

Winning the Stanley Cup isn’t easy as an individual or even as a franchise. What makes it even harder is a salary cap. Somehow, in the salary cap era we are now in, the Pittsburgh Penguins were able to win the Cup back to back years.

The Penguins crushed the dreams of the San Jose Sharks in 2016, a team that had been knocking on Stanley’s door for the better part of the decade. They then took down the Predators, who also were seen as top contenders that season, the following year.

What’s more impressive to add is that they clinched victory both times on the road. When it’s all said and done, Crosby will definitely, well at least should be considered as one of the top five players of all time, and achievements such as back to back cups solidifies it.

General Manager Jim Rutherford was able to add cheap, young talent to play around the core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Chris Kunitz, and Kris Letang. You also can’t forget about the play between the pipes with Marc-Andre Fleury and Matt Murray. It truly was incredible to see the same team during the cap era win the Stanley Cup back to back.