With mom battling cancer, injured Trevor Daley gets Stanley Cup first from captain Sidney Crosby
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Crosby handed injured defenceman Daley the Stanley Cup trophy following success over the San Jose Sharks.
Sidney Crosby knew Trevor Daley’s mother wanted to see him lift the Stanley Cup, so the Pittsburgh Penguins captain made sure the injured defenceman was the first one to get it.
Crosby said he gave it to Daley not because of the injury, but because the 32-year-old’s mother is battling cancer.
Daley told Crosby after a visit home that his mother, Trudy, was not doing well.
When it was time to celebrate Sunday night, Crosby told Daley he would be getting it first.
“It was pretty special,” Daley said. “He’s a great player, but he’s an even better person. There’s not much more you can say about that guy. He’s a special guy.”
Daley had played 838 regular-season games with the Dallas Stars, Chicago Blackhawks and then the Penguins before winning the Cup for the first time. He was traded twice in the past year: from Dallas to Chicago and then from Chicago to Pittsburgh for Rob Scuderi.
General manager Jim Rutherford said acquiring Daley and winger Carl Hagelin changed the way the Penguins played and helped them be faster. Daley shouldered the load in the second round when Kris Letang was suspended and was one of Pittsburgh’s best defencemen in the play-offs.
Daley handed the Cup to winger Pascal Dupuis, who had to stop playing hockey several months ago because of blood clots.
