Penguins Update: Au Revoir Pascal

He was a throw-in. A warm body to plug one of the gaps created when then-GM Ray Shero sent fan favorite Colby Armstrong and Erik Christensen to Atlanta as part of a blockbuster five-player deal for sniper Marian Hossa at the 2008 trade deadline.

Indeed, when Pascal Dupuis first arrived in Pittsburgh, he was regarded as little more than a 28-year-old journeyman who’d once scored 20 goals for Minnesota. One who was skating for his fourth NHL team in a little over a year.

Yet over time Dupuis would come to justify the trade on his own. Long after Hossa departed the Steel City for the supposedly greener hockey pastures of Detroit.

They say confession is good for the soul. So here goes. A hockey buddy and I initially poked fun at “Duper.” Specifically, for the way passes would clank off his blade and skitter into the abyss of scoring chances unfulfilled. A result of what Sport Illustrated’s Michael Farber described as “flinty” hands.

Then Pascal’s playmaking and puckhandling began to improve. Markedly. I’ve watched my share of hockey over the years. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a player emerge to such a degree at a comparatively late stage of his career. Especially one in his thirties.

The hustling winger transformed from a dependable two-way pro with a booming shot into a good offensive player. A really good one. Perhaps not an all-star. But certainly a notch below.

One goal, in particular, sticks out. It occurred late in the third period of a 5-2 victory over Boston at the CONSOL on March 11, 2012. Dupuis poked the puck away from Milan Lucic at the Pens’ blue line, flew into the Bruins’ zone at warp speed and beat goalie Marty Turco with a dazzling forehand-to-backhand move that took my breath away.

A goal-scorer’s goal.

Dupuis went on to tally a career-best 25 goals that season. During the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign, Pascal potted 20 while logging a 17-game points streak. Tops in the NHL. Number 9 also paced the league with a plus-31.

At age 34 the Laval, Quebec native was rewarded with a four-year deal worth $15 million. He deserved every penny.

Then came the injuries.

Warrior that he is, Duper battled back. Who can forget his emotional four-point return in the 2014-15 season opener from a devastating ACL tear? Or his gritty two-goal effort to pave the way to victory over Toronto last November 14? Shortly before he was diagnosed with a blood clot that would ultimately and prematurely end his career.

Stepping away from the game and team he loves must hurt. Deeply. You could see it in his eyes as he made his announcement yesterday. Yet Dupuis hangs up his skates secure in the knowledge that he left nothing on the table. He gave everything he had to give…and more.

Teammates past and present adore him. Perhaps the finest testament to the kind of player he was. Heart and soul.

Au revoir, Pascal, and God bless. We’ll miss you.

Pascal by the Numbers