NOTABLE ADDITIONS
Matt Cooke, LW (Signed as a free agent, previously with the Washington Capitals)
Ruslan Fedotenko, LW (Signed as a free agent, previously with the New York Islanders)
Eric Godard, RW (Signed as a free agent, previously with the Calgary Flames)
Danny Richmond, D (Acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks)
Miroslav Satan, RW (Signed as a free agent, previously with the New York Islanders)
NOTABLE LOSSES
Ty Conklin, G (Signed as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings)
Adam Hall, RW (Signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Lightning)
Marian Hossa, RW (Signed as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings)
Georges Laraque, RW (Signed as a free agent with the Montreal Canadiens)
Ryan Malone, LW (Traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning)
Gary Roberts, LW (Traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning)
Jarkko Ruutu, LW (Signed as a free agent with the Ottawa Senators)
2007-08 Season Finish: 1st Atlantic Division, 2nd Eastern Conference, 102 Pts.
2007-08 Playoffs: Won 4-0 against the Ottawa Senators in Quarterfinals
Won 4-1 against the New York Rangers in Semi-Finals
Won 4-1 against the Philadelphia Flyers in Eastern Conference Finals
Lost 4-2 to the Detroit Red Wings in Stanley Cup Finals
2008-09 Prediction: 3rd Atlantic Division, 5th Eastern Conference
The Pittsburgh Penguins enjoyed a fine performance in the 2008 playoffs, but were unable to defeat the more experienced Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Finals. As free agency approached this past July, many of the players central to the team’s playoff success were eligible for unrestricted free agency and Penguins lacked the salary cap space to retain them all. The Penguins managed to keep unrestricted free agents Brooks Orpik, Pascal Dupuis, Mark Eaton, and Jeff Taffe, and resigned restricted free agents Evgeni Malkin and Marc-Andre Fleury to long-term extensions. The team was unsuccessful in retaining Marian Hossa, Ryan Malone, Gary Roberts, Georges Laraque, Jarkko Ruutu, Adam Hall, and Ty Conklin. The Penguins were able to find suitable replacements for most of the departed players, and should still have a competitive team on the ice for the 2008-09 season. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin remain the Penguins two best forwards, as well as among the two most talented players in the NHL. Crosby brings the Penguins superb passing skills, fantastic vision on the ice, and a great goal-scoring ability, while Malkin gives the team outstanding offensive skills and a terrific goal-scoring ability as well. Petr Sykora gives the Penguins excellent offensive talent and veteran depth, while Jordan Staal brings decent goal-scoring skills and toughness to the forward lines. To make up for the offensive skills lost with the departure of Hossa, the Penguins signed Miroslav Satan via free agency. The team is hoping that Satan’s goal-scoring talent and offensive depth will be able to match that of Hossa. Pittsburgh is also hoping that newly acquired Ruslan Fedotenko will be able to contribute the same offensive numbers that some of the other departed players put up last season. Maxime Talbot and Tyler Kennedy had fine seasons in 2007-08 and will look to improve on their offensive skills in 2008-09. Pascal Dupuis gives the Penguins a decent, checking line forward, especially when killing penalties, while Jeff Taffe gives the team decent offensive depth on the checking lines as well. Newcomers Matt Cooke and Eric Godard give the Penguins lots of toughness and gritty play, while the latter will look to fill the enforcer’s role last held by the departed Georges Laraque. Prospects Keven Veilleux, Ryan Stone, Chris Minard, Dustin Jeffrey, and Connor James will all look to make the team on their fine offensive talent. While the Penguins should have no problems with their offensive play in the new season, the addition of another scoring forward could be beneficial to the team, especially if Satan and Fedotenko can produce the desired numbers.
The Penguins saw little change to their defense over the summer, which will likely be as competitive as it was last season. The team got some bad news recently with Sergei Gonchar being sidelined indefinitely with a dislocated shoulder. His offensive skills will be sorely missed, especially on the power play. The Penguins will likely look to within to replace Gonchar, possibly with Kris Letang or even Alex Goligoski. Letang and Goligoski have decent offensive skills, but will have to improve them significantly to fill Gonchar’s shoes. Ryan Whitney could be another option to replace Gonchar, as he has decent offensive talent as well. Hal Gill and Brooks Orpik give the Penguins two hard hitting and physical defensemen who are not afraid to mix it up with the opposition. Darryl Sydor, Mark Eaton, and Rob Scuderi all give the Penguins decent defensive depth and talent on the blueline. Prospects Paul Bissonnette and Danny Richmond will look to make the team at training camp on their toughness and gritty play.
Marc-Andre Fleury and Dany Sabourin will be the goaltending tandem for the Penguins during the 2008-09 season. Fleury enjoyed a fine season in 2007-08 and will look to do so again during the new season. Sabourin, who saw some action last season as the backup to Ty Conklin when Fleury was injured, is a very capable backup for the Penguins. His fine play from last season will likely carry over into the new season.
STRENGTHS
- Very strong team offensively.
- Lots of defensive depth.
- Strong goaltending.
WEAKNESSES
- Could use another goal-scoring forward.
- Need more offense on defense.
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