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May 21, 2008 7:34 pm US/Eastern
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Craig Patrick Recalls His Time With The Penguins
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
When the Penguins won back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships in the early 90s, then-general manager Craig Patrick became a Pittsburgh sports hero.
But he eventually left the team, just years before this year's return to the Stanley Cup finals.
After building a two-time Stanley Cup championship team back in the early 1990s, Patrick's picture now hangs on the Penguins Hall-of-Fame banner at Mellon Arena.
Recently, at the invitation of Mario Lemieux, Patrick was back at the arena, watching the team he had, in part, put together. He would describe it as bittersweet.
Craig has not done many interviews since his departure, but he recently sat down with KDKA's Bob Pompeani.
Craig Patrick was fired by the Penguins back in April of 2006 after 16 mostly-successful seasons at the helm.
His dismissal came as the team was going through tough financial times, which required a sell-off of many top assets.
Patrick only dealt with a salary cap for one season, but in reality, he had been operating under one for several years.
He said he was under orders to trade or not re-sign many of the teams best players, most notably Jaromir Jagr, and he didn't have much leverage.
Patrick oversaw the dismantling of the team. The idea was to tear it down, and try to rebuild it through the draft and then hope for better economic times and that was certainly happening.
Patrick drafted Evgeni Malkin, and was also there as the Penguins won the Sidney Crosby draft lottery.
Before those picks, Patrick also shrewdly maneuvered to move up in the '03 draft to select Marc-Andre Fleury.
Most of Patrick's failings have occurred in his coaching decision. He hired Eddie Olzkck; then later fired him, but he also was responsible for bringing Michel Therrien into the organization.
Patrick says he is now ready to roll again and he'd like to get back into the game.
Patrick has said he admires the job Ray Shero has done, and Shero has given him props as well.
As for this series, Patrick told KDKA that it should be a terrific matchup. He likes Detroit's experience, but he says the Penguins are deeper and more talented.
He says it will be the Penguins in six.
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