Coaching really matters. As you stated, Crosby just had some deep playoff runs, followed by terrible seasons. What changed ? The coaches.
PNG hired a new coach about the same time. They hired the right coach.
I’m a loooong time Crosby fan, ex-player, father of a player, all the way back to the George Dean era of the ‘70s. All that set aside, it won’t hurt my feelings if Prieto “donkey stomps” the Crosby administration on this one.