 |
| (June 15, 2009 - Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images North America) |
It feels so long ago that the Pittsburgh Penguins were defending Stanley Cup Champions. I remember that summer like it was yesterday. The night of game 7 I was in my local town Munhall, Pennsylvania, watching the game on a big screen t.v. in the middle of the street. There most have been over 50 people there.
The Penguins won the Stanley Cup all night as you all know. I was very emotional that night. I was only 5 years old when the Penguins had last lifted Lord Stanley's Cup. At 21 years old, I was at the top of the world. I was picked up and crowd surfed. Shotgunning beers, driving around beeing the horn in the car, capped off by a massive house party. Then relived it all again at the extremely hot and humid parade celebrating the cup.
Great times.
Since then the Penguins have offered you and I some more great memories but have fallen short in each of the last two playoffs. Last year the team had one of the best seasons in franchise history in terms of points, despite not having Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for the second half of the season, and without Jordan Staal in the first third of the season.
The power-play was dreadful, Kris Letang, Tyler Kennedy, and Marc-Andre Fleury all had career years. The Pens opened the Consol Energy Center and the Pens hosted and lost the Winter Classic at Heinz Field.
This year going into the season there is a mixture of optimism and doubt in the air at the same time for Pens' fans. More optimism than anything.
Here's a brief preview on the team and their players for the 2011-2012 season.
Gone from the team:
Maxime Talbot- I personally know one girl that is saddened to death with the departure of Max Talbot. I know he scored some big playoff goals but the fact is he was a glorified role-player. His persona was bigger than his actual hockey ability. Talbot who left via free-agency signed with the Philadelphia Flyers of all teams.
Personally, F you Talbot and F the Flyers.
Mike Rupp- Rupp's physicality, leadership, and size is not easy to replace. The Pens' really don't have anyone to replace that besides Aaron Asham. Rupp is not a great hockey player but is a great role-player who also decided to stay in the division signing with the New York Rangers.
Also gone: Eric Godard, Mike Comrie, Chris Connor, the man without a time machine Alexei Kovalev.
New faces:
Richard Park- Park used to play for the Pens' way back in the day in the early 90's. Park is a really good penalty killer and can skate and isn't afraid to get physical. He always flirts around 25-33 points so he should replace Talbot's role on the team.
Steve Sullivan- Shero loves those Nashville guys. Sullivan is 37 years-old and has been injury prone but if healthy should be a guy that can put up anywhere from 35-50 points for the Pens.
Jason Williams- Williams is a guy that will not dress every night but is versatile and provides the team with more depth.
Joe Vitale- Vitale played a few games with the team last year and is a hard-working forward. Bylsma loves him.
Who the Pens have:
 |
| http://thepuckdoctors.com |
Right now all eyes are on Evgeni Malkin in Pittsburgh. Malkin missed 39 game last year and the first round of the playoffs with a knee injury. Before the injury Malkin had just 43 points in 39 games. Some nights he brought it and played up to his world class skill level. Other nights Malkin dragged and looked depressed, wasting his amazing talents.
All off-season we've heard about how hard Malkin is training and that he's dedicated to hockey. So far in training camp and preseason it has shown. Malkin does look great and is primed for a great season. I fully expect Malkin to carry the Penguins on his back until Sidney Crosby returns. Malkin has done it before.
Malkin is easilty one of the most talented forwards in the league. Motivation and focus seems to be his biggest weakness. Can Dan Bylsma and the coaching staff keep him focused and motivated? Can Malkin play possessed and full-speed when Crosby returns?..... I hope so.
I expect Malkin to have a big year like most. He's a Conn Smythe winner and a former Art Ross winner. This year I am picking Malkin to win his second career scoring title. Also follow him on twitter it's the smartest decision you'll ever make.
Crosby Watch: Crosby is starting the year on the I.R. for the first 7 days. Every day we hear something different about Crosby's health. The Pens should not rush Crosby back. Head injuries are the number one killer of sports careers.
Last year Crosby was on pace for his best year yet. He had a 25-game-point-streak in December and was running away with the scoring title. Then came the concussions. Crosby led the team in points with 66 despite not playing half the year.
Will Crosby be the same when he comes back? My guess is yes. I think Crosby will come back strong and help the Pens to a long playoff run. When healthy he's the best player in the game. Sid is a Ferrari.
Marc-Andre Fleury had a crazy year last year. In the first month of the season he was dreadful. Fans were booing him and a lot of people wanted Brent Johnson to start over him. These people would be idiots.
Fleury went on to have his best year yet, making the All-Star team and winning the team MVP. Fleury piratically carried the Pens to the playoffs without Crosby and Malkin. Fleury is a top 10 goalie and could contend for the Vezina this year.
Tyler Kennedy and Kris Letang both had career years last year. Letang had 50 points and made the All-Star team, although he did level off at the end of the season. If Letang can ever hit the net on the power-play he'd have a 70 point season. I love Letang's skating and he's at his best when he's playing with full focus and confidence. I expect another 50 point season from him.
Kennedy stepped up big time for the Pens' offensively, at times he was the only guy that score with Crosby and Malkin out of the lineup. Kennedy finished with a career high in goals (21) and points (45) and finished 4th on the team in points. Shero rewarded him with a brand new contract. Kennedy > Talbot
Chris Kunitz will continue to be Chris Kunitz, excuse me for sounding like Steelers' coach Mike Tomlin. Kunitz is a great complementory forward who can score 20+ goals and also act as a checking forward.
James Neal will have the microscope on him the entire season. Neal was acquired from Dallas last year along with defenseman Matt Niskanen for defenseman Alex Goligoski.
Neal only had 6 points in 20 games with the Pens scoring just 1 goal. Neal is a big time talent at the winger position Neal has good speed and size with a good shot. Put him on a line with Malkin and/or Crosby and he should score 20+ goals and flirt around 50-60 points.
Jordan Staal is one of my favorite hockey players. So good defensively it's amazing. Last year Staal only played in 42 games, yet he managed to register 30 points. He was on pace for a 58 point season. That's really good for Staal who is the most defensively responsible forward on the team.
If Staal can get over 50 points it's a win for him and the team. I think Staal gets his 2nd career Selke nomination this year. Haters will still hate but they're knew to hockey.
The defense should be strong, especially with the top 2 pairings. Letang and Broks Orpik, Paul Martin and Zybenek Michalek. All four guys are good enough to be on a top defensive line pairing across the NHL. Good combination of skating, positioning, and physicality.
Ben Lovejoy, Matt Niskanen, and Deryk Engelland will share time on the third pairing. I'm ready for Simon Depres and Joe Morrow.
The Pens still have a good core of role players at the forward position as well with Pascal Dupuis, Matt Cooke, Mark Letestu, Craig Adams, and Aaron Asham.
Last year coach Bylsma won the NHL Jack Adams award for coach of the year. The players seem to love playing for him. If this team can stay healthy they're serious Stanley Cup contenders.
The power-play is something to watch. Last year it was awful, going 1-33 in the first round of the playoffs. With Malkin and Crosby back, it will improve, but how much? Will the Pens' use 4 forwards on it? Who gets the half-wall, Crosby or Malkin?
The power-play is going to be key for just how far this team goes.
I hate to put it in terms like this but this year is a Stanley Cup year or bust in my eyes, unless they get unlucky with injuries again. A healthy Crosby + a healthy Malkin + the core of last year's team should = Stanley Cup.
I hope so and I hope yinz are as fired up as I am for the start of the season.
Lets go Pens!
Follow me on Twitter
No comments:
Post a Comment