At the time, when the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 in an early April affair, we thought it was a disastrous result and only for the two teams involved. But no one could have possibly predicted the domino effect of a win for one of the NHL’s worst teams over Sidney Crosby’s playoff fringe Penguins.
Sometimes, when you least expect it, a seemingly normal late-season game can mean so much to the rest of the league.
Now, with the 2023 Stanley Cup Final matchup finally almost set in stone, let’s look back at three mind-blowing ways one Penguins-Blackhawks regular season battle forever changed NHL history.
One thing seems certain: We might even look back on this game and see more butterfly-effect outcomes down the line.
1
The Panthers probably miss the playoffs and never make a run to the Stanley Cup Final
It’s easily forgotten now after Matthew Tkachuk’s heroics, but the Panthers were a playoff fringe team in April. They needed a lot of help to even sneak into the postseason. If the Penguins had beaten the Blackhawks, they probably would’ve qualified for the playoffs, bottling up the Panthers and all of their playoff magic.
Instead, Pittsburgh’s defeat opened the door to this Cinderella run.
2
The Blackhawks never get the rights to draft Connor Bedard
The NHL could’ve (and probably should’ve) prevented the Blackhawks from getting the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft in the first place, but if Chicago had lost to Pittsburgh — this discussion would’ve been moot. They wouldn’t have gotten their respective draw with the defeat, and the generational Connor Bedard would almost certainly be calling another NHL city home soon enough.
3
Kyle Dubas might not have been fired by the Leafs, and be in line for the Penguins' job
Dubas is viewed as one of the best general managers in the NHL. But the Toronto Maple Leafs’ lack of a truly deep playoff run during his tenure doomed his prospects. If the Panthers don’t make the playoffs, there’s a distinct reality where the Leafs could still be playing right now. And Dubas would still be their GM.
Instead, he’s one of the more attractive executives available and, ironically, could even take over the Penguins!
