The Hockey News - Pittsburgh Penguins - Eastern Conference - Preseason #1



"The Hockey News Has Us #1 In the East?!"

 The Pirates were off last night, and I figured its time the Penguins get some love on the site besides talking about that dreaded lockout that could be looming.  For the next 5 minutes (or however long it will take you to read this post) lets just forget about the lockout and assume the NHL season is going to start on time.  With that being said, I could't help but notice a few days ago that the publication "The Hockey News" put out its 2012-2013 Eastern and Western Conference predictions.  I took the bait while cruising my Twitter timeline and checked the link.  Approaching this site I figured that the Penguins would be around #5, and surely behind teams like the Flyers, Rangers, and even the Bruins.  To my surprise, the Penguins were the #1 team in the Hockey News eyes.  Here is the description they give for why the Penguins are the number 1 team in the Eastern Conference:

Why: Critics take note: the Pens finished one point out of first overall…and Sidney Crosby played all of 22 games. Yes, we know Jordan Staal is gone, but Brandon Sutter slots in beautifully on the third line. Keep in mind, too, that GM Ray Shero has almost $10 million in cap space to play with to upgrade the flanks and the ‘D.’ The Flyers may be in their heads, but the rest of the league is in their wake in terms of talent.

Shocked could be a word to describe what these Hockey "experts" were saying about my favorite team.  We know the Penguins have some of the best centers in the NHL, but is their defense worthy of such a preseason prediction?  Look, I realize these are just a bunch of hockey fans sitting around talking about which team is the best, and it doesn't mean anything, but at the same time this is something that could create some buzz around the league.  I thought about it for a while and tried to figure out if the Penguins are a team that could legitimately contend for the cup, and I think they are. 

The biggest question mark is the back end.  Marc Andre-Fleury's consistency as well as the blue line that was ravished by the Flyers last year basically remain the same.  Some insiders in Pittsburgh say they can fill these holes by "in house" moves.  They should be able to fill the defense considering it seems like the Pens have drafted a defenseman as their 1st overall pick for the last 10 years (exaggeration).  The addition of Tomas Vokoun also helps keep Fleury fresh, and give quality starter depth at a position that required Fleury to start almost every game the past 2 years.  Zibanek Michalek is gone (I know everyone was upset about loosing that guy) and it will be interesting to see who fills those roles along the blue line this year.  I'd love to see another Brooks Orpik type come along somewhere, but they don't just grow on trees.  People (like me) also complain about the lack of a winger for Sid.  Neal is going to play with Malkin and Kunitz until they prove they lost their magic, but Crosby can make anyone look good.  If Tyler Kennedy could actually hit the net on a shot he could be a 20+ goal scorer playing along Sid.  With a full offseason for Sid and Geno, this team could be lethal.  Every Penguin fan knows the Pens can fill up the net, but if the back end can play better then there is no saying this team couldn't be hoisting Lord Stanley's fabled cup in early spring next year!