PITTSBURGH PENGUINS: 08-09 Season Preview

07-08 RECORD: 47-27-8 102 points
DIVISION: 1st
CONFERENCE: 2nd
RESULT: Lost in Stanley Cup final

OFF-SEASON
ARRIVALS: LW Ruslan Fedotenko, RW Miroslav Satan, LW Matt Cooke, LW Janne Pesonen, RW Eric Godard, RW Bill Thomas, D Danny Richmond
DEPARTURES: G Ty Conklin, RW Adam Hall, RW Marian Hossa, RW Georges Laraque, LW Ryan Malone, LW Gary Roberts, LW Jarrko Ruutu

Even after the Penguins run to the Stanley Cup finals, it was a tough off-season for one reason, Marian Hossa. Hossa showed that he wants to win a Cup and the Penguins have a the credentials to do it and they offered him a long-term contract. Yet even after all of that Hossa went to Detroit taking only a 1-year contract, it was a slap in the face to the whole franchise. You cant dread on the past and the Penguins didn't, moving their focus to other free agents to fill in the holes. The Penguins quickly swept up Islanders cast-offs Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko. Both have won a Stanley Cup and both with play with either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. Point totals for both should be on the rise even after their dreadful seasons on long-island. The Penguins also lost tough guy Georges Laraque but signed Eric Godard to protect their young franchise duo.

CAP HIT: 56.49 million

FORWARDS:
My Projected Lines:
1- P.DUPUIS-S.CROSBY-M.SATAN
2- R.FEDOTENKO-E.MALKIN-P.SYKORA
3- M.COOKE-J.STAAL-T.KENNEDY
4- E.GODARD-M.TALBOT-B.THOMAS
E- R.STONE-J.TAFFE-P.BISSONNETTE

The Penguins will never have a problem scoring goals with Crosby and Malkin. They are probably the best 1-2 punch in the league and until someone stops them, the Penguins have nothing stopping them. Some observers are worried the Penguins will suffer without Hossa but Crosby had never played will a legitimate top-6 before other than when Malkin played the odd game on the wing. Satan is probably not a 1st line winger anymore but he has enough scoring ability to finish off Crosby's passes. Pascal Dupuis was with Crosby all through the playoffs and seemed to add some nice grit to the line while popping the odd goal, he should be good for 15-20 goals too. Malkin will be joined with new-comer Fedotenko and Petr Sykora. Malkin and Sykora had some nice chemistry together last season and Malkin really helped Sykora resurrect his career. Can Malkin do the same with Fedotenko? Probably, Fedotenko isn't a top-6 forward but can excel when put with elite players, look at him with Lecavalier in Tampa. Jordan Staal rounds out the Pens big three down the middle. Staal is just as important as Crosby and Malkin for his great all-around play. New addition Matt Cooke and Tyler Kennedy will play the 'Sean Avery" role while adding some offense here and there. Maxime Talbot and Eric Godard bring the grit and toughness up front.

DEFENSE:
My Projected Pairings:
1- K.LETANG-B.ORPIK
2- M.EATON-A.GOLIGOSKI
3- H.GILL-R.SCUDERI
E- R.WHITNEY(INJ.)-S.GONCHAR(INJ.)/D.SYDOR

The injuries of both Sergei Gonchar who is out 4-6 months and Ryan Whitney who is out till at least mid-November hurt the Pens big time. GM Ray Shero has given the Pens good depth but loosing your top-2 defensemen will hurt no matter what. Brooks Orpik now steps up into the #1 role and will have to play huge minutes till at least Whitney returns and takes off some of the pressure. The most pressure while Gonchar and Whitney are out will be on youngsters Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski who now have to be big minutes while running the PP. If those two step up then the injuries will all of a sudden feel better for everyone. Hal Gill and Rob Scuderi played well in the playoffs and will have to continue with their play, especially Gill who can be slow and can get burned awfully fast. Darryl Sydor brings depth and leadership to the group.

GOALIES:
1- M-A.FLEURY
2- D.SABOURIN
3- J.CURRY

The biggest surprise last season was the play of M-A Fleury after his return from injury. He was simply remarkable and finally looked like he is going to live up to his #1 overall selection status. He was dynamite throughout the whole playoffs and the Pens can feel a little better without Gonchar and Whitney with him in the net. Dany Sabourin should be more than a capable back-up but probably wont see a ton of playing time with Fleury becoming an elite goaltender.

OVERALL

The Pens have one of the best young cores the game has seen with Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Whitney and Fleury. All 5 players have or looked to be elite players in the league and with them in tact and healthy the Pens are heavy Cup contenders once again. The loss of Gonchar and Whitney will hurt the Pens and it should make the battle for the division neck and neck with Philadelphia. The leadership from Crosby with really show with these loss's and to prevent a Stanley Cup finalists 'hang-over'.

PREDICTION: 1st Division, 2nd Conference