Book Review and Event: “The Rise of the Pittsburgh Penguins 2009-2018”

It seems fellow PenguinPoop blogger Rick Buker has been burning the midnight oil again. Author of Total Penguins and 100 Things Penguins Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die, Rick’s written a brand-new book about the Pens, The Rise of the Pittsburgh Penguins 2009-2018.

Differing in scope from his previous books, which covered the team’s entire history, Rick’s latest work focuses on the past ten seasons. It opens with a colorful retelling of the famous Sidney Crosby–Max Talbot Reebok commercial that first aired on New Year’s Day 2010, sandwiched around a brief recap of the team’s early history and Lemieux-era Stanley Cup triumphs.

Rick seamlessly shifts into a season-by-season narrative of the team’s amazing journey, starting with the 2009 Cup conquest and culminating in the stirring back-to-back Cups and subsequent fall from grace in 2018.

Divided into six sections, 29 chapters in all, The Rise of the Pittsburgh Penguins 2009-2018 details many of the key events that shaped the Pens’ fortunes through this roller coaster of a time, from Crosby’s career-threatening concussion, to the crushing playoff defeats that led to the ousters of general manager Ray Shero and coach Dan Bylsma, through the period of upheaval that followed.

The story turns with the arrival of new GM Jim Rutherford and his daring blockbuster trade for Phil Kessel, not to mention JR’s bold mid-season hire of coach Mike Sullivan, moves that paved the way for the dual Cup triumphs.

The book also features a small statistical section that includes scoring summaries for each regular season and playoff year from 2009 through 2018, as well as the results of each playoff game and series.

Written in Rick’s upbeat, entertaining style, it’s a remarkably easy read at 243 pages. Available in hard cover and due for release on March 19, it’s priced at $19.99 in the United States and $26.99 in Canada.

I rate it an enthusiastic “two thumbs up” and a must-have for any true Pens fan.
The Rise of the Pittsburgh Penguins 2009-2018 is available online through outlets such as Skyhorse Publishing, Amazon, Walmart, and Barnes & Noble, and at bookstores like Barnes & Noble.

EVENT

On Saturday, April 6, Rick will be available to sign copies of The Rise of the Pittsburgh Penguins 2009-2018 from 1-3 PM at the Barnes & Noble bookstore located at Settler’s Ridge. A supply of books will be available for purchase.

It’s a great chance to meet Rick face to face and perhaps swap a favorite Penguins story or two. So mark your calendar!