Pens Season Preview
The Penguins brass met yesterday to determine who will begin the season in Pittsburgh. General manager Ray Shero has been quoted as saying that he would love to keep the 23 guys who had the best camp in Pittsburgh, but due to the contracts of some players, who has to clear waivers etc, he will have to consider all options. Shero has also gone on record as saying that he will most likely keep less than the maximum roster, because he would like to have some flexibility to claim a player or two from waivers. It seems as if he is expecting a decent player or two to be passed through as teams trim their own fat in preparation for the season. The final cuts will probably be announced at some point today.
Shero is also negotiating with the agents for Jordan Staal and Kristopher Letang. Both of these players, due to age, will have to return to their junior teams if a deal is not worked out by 5:00pm today. If deals are not negotiated for these two players it will make a couple of decisions easy for Shero. No deal, no 9 game look and they head back. Shero stated that he will continue to negotiate with these players, even if the deadline is missed.
On to the preview.....
Forwards:
The Penguins forwards should definitely be the strength of the team. What more can you say than Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. These two will make up one of the most dangerous 1-2 punches in the league.
The top line looks like it will be fabulous with Colby Armstrong picking up where he left off last year, and the newly acquired Nils Ekman looking as if he has been playing with Crosby and Armstrong for years. Malkin will center Mark Recchi and Ryan Malone forming what could be a top line on many teams. Dominic Moore, Ryan Stone, Jarkko Ruutu and Max Talbot will bring high energy to the rink every night. John LeClair will find his niche and will contribute 20-25 goals. Michel Ouellet will most likely play a 3rd or 4th line role, but will spend time on the power play in sort of a specialist role. Andre Roy is still on board and will play a checking role and bring some toughness. Jordan Staal looks as if he will be in the mix, at least short term, after having a good camp.
Defense:
Sergei Gonchar has looked like the player the Penguins thought they were getting last season, when they signed him to a 5 year, $5 million deal. He has been solid defensively and getting his shot on net, which has translated into goals. He should have a nice year playing on a team that boasts such quality forwards. Mark Eaton was brought in to solidify the defense and he has looked solid throughout the preseason. Brooks Orpik has looked better than in past years and seems to be developing well. Ryan Whitney has struggled during the preseason, but has settled down a bit the past couple of games and will most likely make the roster. The team also has Josef Melichar and Eric Cairns who can fill in on any given night. Noah Welch looks like he will be the odd man out during the final cut. He hasn't been head and shoulders above his peers, plus he does not have to clear waivers to be sent down. The team is hoping to sign Kristopher Letang, who has impressed throughout camp and looks to be a future power play quarterback in the league.
Goaltending:
This is a major area of concern heading into the season. Marc-Andre Fleury was handed the keys to the proverbial car coming into camp, but he hasn't done too much to keep them. Fleury has been inconsistent at best, and just hasn't looked comfortable. He has been getting beaten over his glove hand, an area of weakness last season and has allowed some big rebounds. He did have a decent outing to end the preseason Saturday night, but will it be enough to keep him in Pittsburgh. I think that it was. He will get a chance to start the season. Jocelyn Thibault, coming off of season ending hip surgery last year, is the most likely back-up candidate. He has had a decent camp, but hasn't dazzled in games either. Thibault seems to get tired late in games, and that has resulted in allowing some questionable goals. That can't happen in the regular season. Danny Sabourin has probably been the best goaltender in camp, but will most likely be the go to guy in Wilkes Barre-Scranton.
Special Teams:
The Penguins power play almost seems like a fantasy league team, and should produce at a great clip. The number one unit will probably look something like this: Crosby, Malkin, Recchi, Gonchar, Ekman. John LeClair, Colby Armstrong, Michel Ouellet, Ryan Whitney and Kristopher Letang could also see time. This group won't have too much trouble moving the puck and should be dominant. The one problem could be over passing looking for the pretty play.
The penalty killing unit has been dramatically upgraded from last season when the Penguins should have just conceded the power play goal to the opposition because they couldn't stop them from scoring. General manager Ray Shero focused on this area in free agency and brought in Jarkko Ruutu and Mark Eaton, both great penalty killers. Eaton was among the league leaders in blocked shots last season. He then made one of his shrewedest moves, trading for Dominic Moore. This kid has a ton of potential. Not only is he a great checker and full of energy, but he has some nice hands. My bet is that Moore is among the league leaders in short handed goals before the season ends. Crosby, Malkin, Recchi and Malone will also see time on the penalty kill. The unit should be a positive for the team.
****
Some personnel moves will be determined by the moves Ray Shero makes with his injured players. Ronald Petrovicky, signed via free agency, and Eric Cairns will begin the year on the injured reserve list. The team is also making a determination on Evgeni Malkin, who is still recovering from a dislocated shoulder. He could start the season on injured reserve as well, but it would be retroactive to the date of his injury and will be eligible to come off at any time. These will most likely be the flex roster spots that Shero wants to keep open for possible incoming waiver claims.
Shero is also negotiating with the agents for Jordan Staal and Kristopher Letang. Both of these players, due to age, will have to return to their junior teams if a deal is not worked out by 5:00pm today. If deals are not negotiated for these two players it will make a couple of decisions easy for Shero. No deal, no 9 game look and they head back. Shero stated that he will continue to negotiate with these players, even if the deadline is missed.
On to the preview.....
Forwards:
The Penguins forwards should definitely be the strength of the team. What more can you say than Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. These two will make up one of the most dangerous 1-2 punches in the league.
The top line looks like it will be fabulous with Colby Armstrong picking up where he left off last year, and the newly acquired Nils Ekman looking as if he has been playing with Crosby and Armstrong for years. Malkin will center Mark Recchi and Ryan Malone forming what could be a top line on many teams. Dominic Moore, Ryan Stone, Jarkko Ruutu and Max Talbot will bring high energy to the rink every night. John LeClair will find his niche and will contribute 20-25 goals. Michel Ouellet will most likely play a 3rd or 4th line role, but will spend time on the power play in sort of a specialist role. Andre Roy is still on board and will play a checking role and bring some toughness. Jordan Staal looks as if he will be in the mix, at least short term, after having a good camp.
Defense:
Sergei Gonchar has looked like the player the Penguins thought they were getting last season, when they signed him to a 5 year, $5 million deal. He has been solid defensively and getting his shot on net, which has translated into goals. He should have a nice year playing on a team that boasts such quality forwards. Mark Eaton was brought in to solidify the defense and he has looked solid throughout the preseason. Brooks Orpik has looked better than in past years and seems to be developing well. Ryan Whitney has struggled during the preseason, but has settled down a bit the past couple of games and will most likely make the roster. The team also has Josef Melichar and Eric Cairns who can fill in on any given night. Noah Welch looks like he will be the odd man out during the final cut. He hasn't been head and shoulders above his peers, plus he does not have to clear waivers to be sent down. The team is hoping to sign Kristopher Letang, who has impressed throughout camp and looks to be a future power play quarterback in the league.
Goaltending:
This is a major area of concern heading into the season. Marc-Andre Fleury was handed the keys to the proverbial car coming into camp, but he hasn't done too much to keep them. Fleury has been inconsistent at best, and just hasn't looked comfortable. He has been getting beaten over his glove hand, an area of weakness last season and has allowed some big rebounds. He did have a decent outing to end the preseason Saturday night, but will it be enough to keep him in Pittsburgh. I think that it was. He will get a chance to start the season. Jocelyn Thibault, coming off of season ending hip surgery last year, is the most likely back-up candidate. He has had a decent camp, but hasn't dazzled in games either. Thibault seems to get tired late in games, and that has resulted in allowing some questionable goals. That can't happen in the regular season. Danny Sabourin has probably been the best goaltender in camp, but will most likely be the go to guy in Wilkes Barre-Scranton.
Special Teams:
The Penguins power play almost seems like a fantasy league team, and should produce at a great clip. The number one unit will probably look something like this: Crosby, Malkin, Recchi, Gonchar, Ekman. John LeClair, Colby Armstrong, Michel Ouellet, Ryan Whitney and Kristopher Letang could also see time. This group won't have too much trouble moving the puck and should be dominant. The one problem could be over passing looking for the pretty play.
The penalty killing unit has been dramatically upgraded from last season when the Penguins should have just conceded the power play goal to the opposition because they couldn't stop them from scoring. General manager Ray Shero focused on this area in free agency and brought in Jarkko Ruutu and Mark Eaton, both great penalty killers. Eaton was among the league leaders in blocked shots last season. He then made one of his shrewedest moves, trading for Dominic Moore. This kid has a ton of potential. Not only is he a great checker and full of energy, but he has some nice hands. My bet is that Moore is among the league leaders in short handed goals before the season ends. Crosby, Malkin, Recchi and Malone will also see time on the penalty kill. The unit should be a positive for the team.
****
Some personnel moves will be determined by the moves Ray Shero makes with his injured players. Ronald Petrovicky, signed via free agency, and Eric Cairns will begin the year on the injured reserve list. The team is also making a determination on Evgeni Malkin, who is still recovering from a dislocated shoulder. He could start the season on injured reserve as well, but it would be retroactive to the date of his injury and will be eligible to come off at any time. These will most likely be the flex roster spots that Shero wants to keep open for possible incoming waiver claims.
posted by Bmetzer66 at 9:46 AM
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