@kit923 requested NHL!Bitty playing for the Pens (@sergeantsexface seconded Pens!Bitty!) and this is a little more pre-Penguins, but it counts, right??? Takes place after the NHL hack that leaks homophobic emails. Eric is fed up with the entire league and planning to make a statement by not signing with anyone. Then this happens.
Origin: From Samwell to Seattle | Part I – Hug Check | Part II – Chirping | Part III – Post-Season | Part IV – RPF | Part V – Dating
It’s just another godawful luncheon, but today Jack has the added pleasure of every other donor asking Jack’s opinion about his ‘homosexual’ teammate going pro. After the third locker room joke, Jack excuses himself, desperate for air, only to find his father and Uncle Mario nursing their drinks on the club’s back patio.
He’s about to find somewhere less conspicuous when he hears:
“That’s not even debatable, Bittle is going to be scouted. Even if he’s just shipped down to a farm team, Bettman isn’t going to-”
Oh. Of course, Mario would be involved in all of this, he’s an owner. Jack knocks his knuckles against the railing, his manners winning out over his morbid curiosity. They stop talking abruptly, but his father visibly relaxes when he sees it’s just Jack and not another donor.
Okay, so here’s the irony about this.
This sounds like a conversation that would have occurred late in 2016 – shortly after the Penguins won their fourth cup (second in the last decade). It’s also a time period when Crosby was rotating through wingers as they tried to find him one that would fit as well as Pascal Dupois.
If Bitty signed with the Penguins, and joined up in 2017 there are clear real life analogues to his game play (as far as we know based on the comics and what fandom has assumed) in the Penguins pipeline. Basically, other players and rookies actually playing at the moment with the Penguins who are also short and fast: Jake Guentzel, Connor Sheary and maybe Brian Rust.
i.e. all young players who are known for being very fast wingers who have or are currently playing in Sidney Crosby’s line.
Basically Mario isn’t wrong, Eric Bittle‘s play would really suit the fast play of the Penguins and, specifically, Sidney Crosby. And, ironically, if you were going to write a story about Bitty being signed by the Penguins, it isn’t actually that far fetched that he’d end up starting on Sidney Crosby’s line – because that’s what happened this past year with at least two other speedy short players.
And if he joined up after Guentzel and Sheary were already on that line? Well, Evgeni Malkin has also been going through wingers trying to get a good fit.
And if Evgeni Malkin doesn’t fit, then I bet they’d be wanting to try out a speedy winger with Bonino or Cullen alongside Phil Kessel or Carl Hagelin.
This entire reblog has made me realise I low key want a story where Eric Bittle moves to Pittsburgh to play hockey with the baby Pens, gets called up half way through the season due to injury and isn’t ever sent back down because he’s an amazing player, very fast and scores goals like it’s easy.
And then he discovers that Crosby’s rumoured sweet tooth is less rumour and more an invitation to come stay at Crosby’s home and make use of his no doubt ridiculously large kitchen.
Jack’s not worried, Bitty and him are forever.
Okay he’s a little worried, Crosby’s got an Aga. Bitty was so excited he was nearly crying over the phone.
@tienriu *hands over keys to Pens!AU*
NHL!Bitty – Pens AU
Published
Steel Phoenix Studios 