Taylor Swift and the Penguins Curse

     This image has been making the rounds... well, around the internet the past couple days, so I thought I'd give some insight into what the big deal here is for those of you who haven't been spending the better part of each of the last few days hitting refresh on all of the major hockey sites (like myself).

     This picture was taken in 2009, in the fall following our third Stanley Cup victory.  Since then each Penguin that took part in this iconic picture has died a slow, painful death.  One by one.  Or they each left the Pens by various means one by one.  Not sure which.

Alex Goligoski (2nd from the right) was the first to make his leave from the Penguins, being part of the deal that sent Matt Niskanen and, more importantly, my homeboy James Neal from the Dallas Stars to Pittsburgh, PA.  No complaints there.

What else is going on in this image??  Better continue reading to find out...

Max Talbot (1st on the left) is a total douchebag and totally stole my style with that shirt.  After getting the two goals in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals against Detroit in 2009 that led to our 3rd championship, he decided to become dead weight the next two seasons.  Afterwards, he was not resigned, and decided to sign with our bitter (EXTREME emphasis on the last word) cross state rivals the scumbag Philadelphia Flyers.  This must have been extremely awkward at first.  I bring into evidence

and

I thank Talbot for what he did through 2009, but after the playoffs this year, he is dead to me.

Blech.

Jordan Staal (2nd from the left)  Please tell me I don't have to go over this again.

     Now all that remains is Tyler Kennedy, whom I have heard recently described as the Penguins' resident manbearpig.  I mean, when you have the league's best mugshot I don't see how anyone else could have that title.

LOOK AT IT!!  LOOK AT IT!!

While looking for the previous image, I also came across the following image of TK that simply must be shared:

"Come at me, bro."  Or alternatively, "I ain't even mad." 

     But, I digress.  Considering the relatively short window of a little over a season that the other three guys have left the team, it is only a matter of time before TK goes out to pasture.  He's a decent winger and he was part of the 2009 cup team, so that counts for something in my book.  The Penguins may have drafted him, but he isn't one of those players that end up playing their whole career for a single team.  Not many players do that, and I wouldn't be surprised that the same happens to Kennedy at some point.  Enjoy it while you can, TK.  You are the last of the Swifthicans.

     Before I go, I might as well share a song.  I haven't done that in a while.  The Random Song Generator (TM) chooses...... Go with the Flow by Queens of the Stone Age.  It's fairly short and worth a listen.