Report: Rival admits he was cheering for Penguins this postseason

After losing the 2016 Stanley Cup Final to the Pittsburgh Penguins, you would think that San Jose Sharks defenseman Brendan Dillon would consider the Pens a bitter rival. Apparently, not so. This morning Dillon opened up with Calgary’s Sportsnet 960 radio station admitting, “I think if anything a lot of us were kind of cheering for them to do the back-to-back and say, ‘Hey, okay, maybe these guys are the real deal’ instead of maybe another team being able to figure them out.”

Interesting perspective. But, we’re willing to bet that most of his teammates weren’t on board with his silver lining take on things. Do you think Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton share his sentiments? Not likely.

And Dillon didn’t stop there with his praise for the back-to-back Cup champions either. He specifically mentioned captain Sidney Crosby saying,
“I think as much as he’s talked about, I still believe he’s a little underrated and that people don’t talk about him enough and all of the accomplishments he’s had in his career.”

For what it’s worth, Dillion also extolled the virtues of his own team and even shared a little tidbit from Jumbo Joe Thornton. Check it out:

“Jumbo’s is pretty funny,” said Dillon. “Doesn’t matter – win or lose – the cards are getting dealt as soon as you’re on the plane. I think that’s one thing for him that’s made him so successful. You realize how long a season is.

“I’ll always remember: we got, I think, shit-kicked in a game. I think it was 7 or 8-0 and get on the plane and he says, ‘Boys – we got 81 more of these things. I mean, it’s going to happen!’

“And sure enough I think we went out in the next game I think he probably had three or four assists. We won the game and everything was back. But I remember that was my first year, I think, with San Jose and I was like, ‘Wow, this guy has got a great mindset and there’s a reason why he’s as successful as he is.’ “