Don't Panic Yet

Though the Pittsburgh Penguins have not fared as well in the preseason as we all may have liked, they will be just fine. The last time I checked, preseason outcomes have had nothing to do with who gets crowned the Stanley Cup Champion. They have spent the pre-season experimenting with new line combos, getting players acclimated to one another and trying to build the comfort level of Sidney Crosby. Here are 5 reasons that the team will be fine:

1. The Power Play - The Penguins have endless possibilities and will put one of the best power plays in the league on the ice each night. This will be a great asset, especially early in the year, considering the learning curve with the new rule enforcement. They have what can be considered one of the best power play quarterbacks in the league: Sergei Gonchar. Though he has been more of a shooter in past seasons, he has looked very comfortable carrying the puck up ice and setting up in the attacking zone. He also has more weapons to compliment him than he has ever had. A healthy Mario Lemieux working the left wing boards, Mark Recchi on the Right side, John LeClair or Ryan Malone in the middle tipping shots and screening goaltenders. He will also have a creative D-man opposite him on the other point, be it Dick Tarnstrom, who was something of a power play specialist last year, or Ric Jackman, who has a huge blast from the point.
2. Sidney Crosby - This kid is the real deal. It may take him a little while to get comfortable in the NHL, but he has still been very impressive. Showing great vision on the ice, setting up line-mates John LeClair and Mark Recchi for many scoring chances, and acquitting himself very well in many different situations. The only knock on Sidney has been his reluctance to shoot the puck, which should work itself out in the coming weeks. Having Sidney in the line-up gives the Penguins two lines that could be considered # 1 on many of the leagues teams. I am penciling him in for 25 goals, 45 assists. Anything above this would be a bonus!
3. Youth and Speed - Many feel that the Penguins got too old too quickly, and went on a veteran binge when free agency started. This is simply not true. They were able to acquire some veterans who are in or entering the prime of their careers, aside from John LeClair and Mark Recchi, who will be great compliments to the Penguins youth of 17 months ago. They have players like Konstantin Koltsov, who is a superb skater and seems to have developed some additional puck skills. Ryan Malone is one of the up and comers in the league, and will be guided along the path to becoming a power forward in the league by John LeClair. He has been pulling center duty with Mario Lemieux and Ziggy Palffy and hasn't looked out of place. Maxime Talbot has earned a job in a checking role, and has shown some scoring touch. Rico Fata has been flying around the ice, and is still an excellent skater. Matt Murley who made the team out of camp in '03-'04 only to be sent back down after 4 games, has seemingly made the team as well. These young players will be able to learn from the veterans and fill specific roles until they are ready to step up. The new "wide open" NHL will serve the pens youth well.
4. Goaltending - The Penguins have arguably one of the best goaltending prospects to come along in years, Marc Andre Fleury. He is the latest butterfly style goaltender to come out of the Q, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, following in the footsteps of Patrick Roy, Martin Brodeur, and Felix Potvin. Marc Andre has been excellent in Penguins camp this season, and has given the team the tough choice of keeping him on the team or letting him have an additional season in Wilkes Barrie Scranton. The team also traded a third round pick for Jocelyn Thibault who posted decent numbers on some bad Chicago Blackhawk teams over the past 4 to 5 years. He has picked up the only win for the team this preseason. Thibault, who should play the bulk of the games this year, will do just fine backstopping a high scoring Penguin team until Marc Andre Fleury is ready to take over between the pipes. The Penguins have some additional depth in net as well, Sebastian Caron has shown signs of being a regular in the NHL, and Andy Chiodo is still available to step in at anytime. He was between the pipes in Phoenix when the Penguins broke out of their 18 game losing streak last season.
5. Mario Lemieux - What can be said about Mario that hasn't already been said. When healthy, he is still one of the most creative and dangerous players in the league. Mario can beat you with a perfect pass, shot or deflection. He was hindered a bit in the last season by lesser line-mates and a nagging hip injury, but that all seems to be behind him now. He has come into camp in great shape and is playing with very skilled line-mates. He will also pull occasional shifts with Sidney Crosby, and benefit from the power play mentioned above. If he remains healthy, and that is a big if, he should have no trouble finishing in the top 10 scorers in the league.
   

The bottom line is that preseason wins are nice, but a team needs to utilize that time to look at all their options. The preseason is time for evaluation, line and team building. Once October 5th comes, and it is truly Game On, then we can worry about wins and losses. Until then, enjoy the preseason for what it is, a chance to see the future and get ready for the new and improved NHL!