BT's 2009-10 NHL Season Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins

(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

There are a few things that make the Atlantic so difficult to predict.

For one, last year it had four teams make the playoffs: the New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Second, the division also features not only the Stanley Cup champion, but last year's owner of the first overall selection, the New York Islanders.

With such a variety, even though one team may have an upper hand, it's still wide open once the season starts.

Pittsburgh Penguins

2008/09 Record: 45-28-9, 99 points, fourth in East—Won Stanley Cup in seven games over Detroit Red Wings.

Additions: Brent Johnson—G (2 years/$2 mil.), Jay McKee—D (1 year/$800 K), Michael Rupp—F (2 years/$1.65 mil), Wade Brookbank—F (FA).

Subtractions: Rob Scuderi—D (FA), Hal Gill—D (FA), Mathieu Garon—G (FA), Philippe Boucher—D (Retired), Petr Sykora—F (FA), Miroslav Satan—F (FA).

The Pittsburgh Penguins have finally taken the first step along that path that many expected them to in winning the Stanley Cup last season.

Now, despite the off-season losses, the Pens are eyeing a third straight trip to the finals, and the making of a dynasty that the NHL hasn’t seen since the Edmonton Oilers.

Sid the Kid, Gino Malkin, and Staal the Second…

Simply put, Pittsburgh’s big three are what make them tick.

Sidney Crosby has the most pure talent out of any NHLer right now, but depending on who you are, he’s either the model NHL Citizen or he’s an immature child, not fit to be a leader.

Either way, the guy is damn talented.

Then the Pens feature a man considered by many to be more dangerous than Crosby, Evgeni Malkin.

Oh, and they also have the most talented and mis-cast (but that's thanks to the other two) third-line center in the league in Jordan Staal, whose huge frame and two-way ability have teams drooling in hopes they can one day acquire him.

The scary thing is that these guys combined for the following line last year: 90 goals and 175 assists for 265 points. Scary considering that Staal hasn’t even harnessed all his tools as a power center.

Looking to other places up front, however, the Penguins do have some pieces down the sides.

Granted, there’s a very noticeable drop-off talent-wise, but Chris Kunitz has the gumption to get into the scoring lanes and put home some rebounds, as well as the moves and toughness that go beyond his size.

Despite losing his goal-scoring mojo in the playoffs (one goal the entire run), Kunitz seemed to find his niche in Pittsburgh and could feasibly return to the realm of 60 points this season.

From there, although the offense is fewer in numbers, the experience goes way up.

Bill Guerin was supposed to have capped his career with another Stanley Cup ring. Now however, he seems to be rejuvenated for another season in Pittsburgh, which may see him top 50 points one last time in shooting for that third Stanley Cup ring.

Along with him, Ruslan Fedotenko brings two Cup rings worth of experience and a nose for the front of the net that can benefit any of those talented Penguins by drawing in the attention from the defense or wreaking havoc on the netminder when he’s left alone.

Although he was just a throw-in in the Marian Hossa trade, Pascal Dupuis did what Hossa didn’t and stuck around long enough to be a champion in the Steel City.

Dupuis, Craig Adams, Eric Godard, Tyler Kennedy, Matt Cooke, Dustin Jeffery (who showed some good awareness and strength at the Rookie Tournament), and Mike Rupp will provide critical depth, while Maxime Talbot may have earned a slightly larger role with such a big-ticket playoff performance.

From there, the Pens have a handful of youngsters who could step up and provide the auxiliary scoring that’s really lost down the wings.

Eric Tangradi was a big-time goal-scorer for the Bellville Bulls, and even a team like the Penguins can never have enough offense. Tangradi always seems to be around the puck and he's a very swift skater, benefited by the fact that his passes seem to have eyes.

Luca Caputi is another name Pens fans are familiar with and should see on their starting lineups come October, as Caputi may be ready to try and transition his power game to the NHL.

Caputi may have to break the habit of occasionally cherry-picking, but if the Pens get a solid defensive effort out of Caputi, they'll also be blessed with a player who skates hard, drives to the net well, and plays with a bit of an edge.

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