They say the bond between champions runs deep, that going through that familiar grind and coming out the other side together leaves a lasting, lifelong impression.
For former Pittsburgh Penguin Kevin Stevens, that bond has proven to be a lifeline, helping him climb out of a situation that seemed, for a moment, irreparable.
“It was a long road to get to where I got, a lot of pain and suffering,” Stevens told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette‘s Jason Mackey on Friday. “It all catches up to you. Addiction’s addiction. We don’t have enough time to sit here and talk about addiction.”
In May, Stevens was sentenced to three years of probation stemming from his conspiring to sell the painkiller oxycodone between 2015 and 2016. The 52-year-old’s history with legal troubles and substance abuse is a long and tumultuous one, but it appears former teammate Mario Lemieux is giving him a chance to get his life back on track, as it was announced on Friday that Stevens will re-join the Penguins organization as a special assignment scout.
The importance of that gesture wasn’t lost on Stevens.
“Mario’s such a great guy. I think he wants to give me an opportunity, but I think he wants to make sure that I’m doing OK,” Stevens said. “I’m very grateful to him, too. He didn’t have to do this. He could’ve said no. He’s given me this opportunity to come back in the organization. I’m very grateful to everyone who had a hand in this.”
After all he’s been through, Stevens knows the onus is on him to rise to the occasion and prove he’s moved on from his past.
“There’s not a lot to be said with my situation,” Stevens told Mackey. “I have to prove myself. I can’t just say I’m doing great. I have to go out there and live day-to-day and show people that I’m doing good, that life’s better.”
That said, Stevens says he’s turned the page, and is looking towards his new tenure in black and gold.
“I’m very happy where I am in my life,” Stevens said. “It took a lot of pain to get here. But, you know? All I can do is move forward a day at a time. Hopefully, it’s an opportunity that I can take advantage of.”
In his new role, Stevens will work out of Boston, assisting the Penguins by scouting amateur prospects and college free agents in the area.
According to Mackey, the hiring was spurred by assistant coach Mark Recchi – also a member of the Penguins’ 1991 championship squad with Stevens and Lemieux – who invited Stevens to serve as a guest instructor at Pittsburgh’s 2017 development camp.
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