Holy Hockey Night In Pittsburgh...a Penguins Season Preview!

Offense isn't the Issue w/ the Pens...Keeping the Puck
Out of the Net is

Its fitting that this article is written today.  Why is it appropriately written today?  Well, the Penguins wrapped up their preseason schedule last night against the Detroit Red Wings, and that means one thing and one thing only...hockey season is right around the corner.  I mean literally, right around the corner.  The Penguins drop the puck on their 2013-2014 season on October 3rd when they welcome the New Jersey Devils to Consol Energy Center for the first of 3 in a 3 game home stand.

I have to be honest, I haven't paid a whole lot of attention to the skating birds recently.  Call it what you want, but I feel like my head is going to explode with the Steelers in trouble only 3 weeks into the NFL season, and the Pirates poised for the postseason.  With that said, the Penguins deserve their spot in the spotlight on "The Blitz" as much as the other two teams, so here goes nothing.

What are the expectations for the upcoming Penguins season?  Well, lets first take a look at key acquisitions / departures / transactions before we go any further. 

Key Departures
- F Tyler Kennedy (Traded to San Jose for an additional draft pick)

Key Acquisitions
- Signed D Rob Scuderi to a 4yr Contract
- Signed F Matt D'Agostini to a 1yr Contract
- Signed C Dustin Jeffrey to a 1yr Contract

Key Transactions
- Signed F Chris Kunitz to a 3yr Contract Extension
- Signed D Kris Letang to a 8yr Contract Extension
- Signed F Pascal Dupuis to a 4yr Contract Extension

Obviously, just by looking at the transactions, the Penguins have decided to go the way of the Steelers and try to keep the core of their success together.  Keeping Crosby's line of 87, 14, and 9 together being the centerpiece.  Bringing back the veratile Dustin Jeffrey and letting Tyler Kennedy all were minor deals, in my opinion.  The biggest deal that was made was signing Defenseman Kris Letang to an 8 year extension, and possibly mortgaging the future of the organization in 3 contracts (Crosby, Malkin, and now Letang).  To me, the biggest storyline of the offseason, in terms of transactions, was the one that wasn't made (or wasn't able to be made).  Marc Andre Fleury has lost his edge.  He no longer has the faith in his game, and you get the feeling that the Penguins have lost faith in his ability to perform on the biggest stage.  The Penguins are willing to give him another shot, but his performances in the preseason have left alot to be desired...picking up where he left off.  Luckily for the Penguins they still have Tomas Vokoun on the roster for at least one more season.

If you ask me what is the biggest storyline for the Penguins to see success this year it comes down to...well its kind of 2 things...its the back end and the Penguins ability to adjust.  Take a look at the last few years.  Unbelievable success in the regular season when things are open and free flowing.  That is the Penguins' game.  Get the puck and move it up ice as fast as humanly possible.  In the playoffs, that doesn't work.  Opposing defenses cut down the open ice and run trap schemes that can frustrate and infuriate teams like Pittsburgh (ex. - Islanders and Bruins of the 2013 Playoffs).  Dan Bylsma and company waited too long to adjust in Boston, and because of that they were swept.  Bylsma generally feels that no matter who the Pens are playing they can "take their game to them" and thats all that needs to happen.  Well, in sports sometimes you have to adjust, and thats something that the Penguins have lacked in the postseason since winning the cup in 2009.

The final storyline is the Penguins back end, and that obviously starts and ends with Marc Andre Fleury or Tomas Vokoun.  The Penguins defense isn't bad, but it takes risks.  Now that Rob Scuderi returns, he and Brooks Orpik will be those "stay home" defenders that the hockey purist loves to see.  Paul Martin and Kris Letang will be the defenders that typically will carry the puck into the zone and try and create offense.  Those pairings are pretty solid, but where Niskanen, Bertuzzo, Despres, and Engelland fit into the scheme is pretty standard...just don't mess up.

If the Penguins can secure the back end of the rink and make adjustments, there is no reason this team isn't a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.  The offense isn't the issue.  Tyler Kennedy leaving wasn't a huge loss, and the team essentially remains the same on offense.  Look for Beau Bennett to have a breakout year along side either Malkin or Sutter.  This is going to be a tough Penguins team to play against this year...even with some of the changes in the lineup...