Finally, hockey is back after a long offseason. Hopefully this season will end with the Cup back in Pittsburgh, but most importantly, I hope we don't have to endure all of the injury problems that we did last year.
Lots of turnover, as usual:
OUT: Max Talbot,
Eric Godard,
Michael Rupp,
Mike Comrie,
Alexei Kovalev, Chris Conner
IN:
Steve MacIntyre,
Steve Sullivan,
Jason Williams,
Richard Park,
Alexandre Picard,
Boris Valabik
KEY RE-SIGNINGS:
Arron Asham,
Pascal Dupuis,
Tyler Kennedy, Dustin Jeffrey
Plus, they will be getting a healthy Malkin back in the lineup.
POSSIBLE LINES:
Neal - Malkin - Sullivan
Kunitz - Staal - Kennedy
Cooke - Jeffrey - Dupuis
Adams - Letestu - Asham/MacIntyre
Orpik - Letang
Martin - Michalek
Niskanen - Engelland
Lovejoy
Fleury
Johnson
QUESTION MARKS:
- Obviously the big one is when will Sid play? There is some good news on his progress, though - he has been cleared to practice, but not contact:
http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.ht...fb-pghpenguins
- Which Geno will we get? The one from 2009 or the one from the past 2 seasons? Let's hope for the former.
- Can Fleury continue his excellent play from last season?
- Secondary scoring. Will Neal and Sullivan deliver?
- Will Staal finally take the next step? It's his 6th season...time for him to deliver the goods or he could be the next big name to punch his ticket out of town.
- Power play. It can't possibly be any worse than it was last season...can it?
PROGNOSIS:
If this team stays healthy, Sid and Geno get back to being the top 3 players that they are and Fleury has another solid season, we could very well have another parade down Grant St. next summer.