Keith Srakocic / AP

Gary Roberts, left, celebrates a Pittsburgh goal with Sidney Crosby. The veteran presence of Roberts is a pivotal factor for the Penguins in their bid to win the Stanley Cup, writes Bill Clement of NBCSports.com.

One super tough customer
When Roberts broke his left fibula in late December, he would have no part of using a stretcher to leave the ice. The hockey warrior in him shunned from such a scene. That refusal is just Roberts keeping up with why in any conversation about the NHL’s grittiest players his name is not only mentioned but it’s mentioned early and often.

Want players who are just beginning to cut their teeth in the league to buy into the mentality that toughness goes a long way to playing winning hockey? Well then the sight of Roberts sans stretcher leaving the ice with a broken leg is a picture that speaks a thousand words about how toughness is truly defined in the NHL.

By refusing to be carried off, Roberts wasn’t thumping his chest about what a man he is. No, he was just being the way he’s always been: rugged and hard-nosed. It’s the only way he knows how to play the game. Nothing is contrived with this guy. It’s all real. Inside of him is an infinite supply of courage (earlier in his career he somehow made it back from a serious neck injury). He understands his role as a leader and as a gladiator through and through. Be sure of this: most if not all of the players who saw Roberts refuse the stretcher weren’t surprised by his decision. It was Roberts just being who he has defined himself to be in 21 years in the NHL.

Counted on in rough spots
Roberts won his only Stanley Cup with Calgary in 1989. Now in a postseason that may turn out to be his farewell appearance as a player in the NHL he so much loves, he could claim another championship. That raises the question of what the Penguins need from him to win the Cup? Well, it depends.

As long as the playoff road traveled by Pittsburgh is a fairly smooth one, Roberts’ mere presence will be enough to help fuel the team’s championship drive. But for any team there almost always comes at least one time during a postseason run when a bridge washes out. Adversity strikes. It’s when this happens that the Penguins will need to navigate their way back onto a title course. And there’s little doubt that’s when Roberts becomes even more valuable. He’s the guy who will be charged with accurately and astutely reading the map for his teammates, the guy who will need to get them pointed back in the right direction.

With Roberts around, his teammates always feel they are capable of succeeding and they never, ever contemplate quitting or taking the easy way out. Roberts won’t have to say much when a potential crisis looms. Just by his demeanor the Penguins will believe there is no reason to panic and that no matter what the obstacle, they are capable of overcoming it. Steady persistence towards achieving a goal – that’s something that just oozes from Roberts and it’s part of why his stellar career includes winning the 1996 Bill Masterton Trophy (awarded to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey). Too bad they already have a name for such a trophy because the NHL couldn’t go wrong by calling it the Gary Roberts Trophy just as the Penguins can’t go wrong by having this fortysomething on board as they strive to win the Cup.

More news

Bruce Bennett / Getty Images

Heading to the Cup finals

Adam Henrique scored off a wild scramble in front early in OT and the New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Rangers 3-2 to advance to their first Stanley Cup finals since '03. The new Eastern champs will face LA next.

NBC Sports

Highlights: OT goal delivers Devils to Cup finals

  Check out highlights as the New Jersey Devils advanced to the Stanley Cup finals by defeating the New York Rangers, 3-2, in overtime.

Headlines

• Label

Gagne back at practice, enjoying Kings' success

PHT: Kings making Lombardi look like a genius

PHT: History doesn't bode well for Kings in finals

PHT: Gretzky says these Kings better than '93 team

PHT: Coyotes' postgame actions 'unacceptable'

PHT: Vigneault confirms Luongo wants out

PHT: Stanley Cup finals will begin May 30

PHT: Seinfeld's 'Puddy' torn between Devils, Kings