WASHINGTON — Despite having plenty of quirks — morning skates, playoff beards, some of the most superstitious humans on the planet — hockey is really no different than any other pro sport.
Everybody watches everyone else. They try to spot trends, stuff that works. Notes are taken — although in this world it’s likely done using a barroom napkin. If something works, it’s not uncommon for management and coaches to pluck a particular idea and put it into practice.
The Penguins know this well. For a two-year stretch, they were the hunted, the team that placed a premium on speed.