Pittsburgh Promise: Beware the Year of the Penguins

2007 will not be the Year of the Penguin.

For most of the Pens roster, the postseason loss to the Ottawa Senators marked a virgin run in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but with four solid lines that can score and take hits, the future looks bright in Pittsburgh.

In fact, if the Penguins can pick up a capable fourth or fifth defenseman and one more defender to come off the bench, they should be primed to make a run at a championship in the next few years.

Here's a look at some of the key pieces in the Penguins' Stanley Cup puzzle.

Ryan Malone: A hardworking player who gets in on the forecheck fast and hard. He's a third-line player who can fill in on the second line while scoring 20 goals a season, and contribute timely points in the playoffs if the Pens' top lines are shut down by the opposition.

  

Colby Armstrong: Very similar to Malone, except that Armstrong can deliver game-breaking, momentum-changing hits.

 

Gary Roberts: Excellent leader who's rumored to want to stay in Pittsburgh next season. My take: Sign him now he could play until he's 45. Roberts' offensive production is still solid, and he's an excellent forechecker; when he does finally retire, he'll make a first-rate players' coach in the NHL. I say he's earned the captain's "C" in Pittsburg.

 

Jordan Staal: I don't think Staal will ever be more than a 60-70 point man who scores 30 goals a year. However, his true value will come on the penalty kill and in his own end. Look for him to become one of the best two-way players in the game and a future Selke Trophy winner not too far down the road.

 

Evgeni Malkin: Disappeared against the Senators, and struggled to adapt himself to the physicality of the postseason. Still, the defensive attention heaped on Sidney Crosby should help Malkin become a consistent 90-100 point scorer in the regular season and a point-per-game performer in the playoffs.

 

Sidney Crosby: What more can anyone say? Crosby was double- and sometimes triple-checked by the Senators...and still managed a point per game in the playoffs. His physical style reminds me of Steve Yzerman in some ways.

 

Marc-Andre Fleury: I'm not entirely convinced that this young man will be able to lead Pittsburgh to a Stanley Cup. Historically, he has struggled in the clutch especially during his time in the QMJHL and at the World Junior under-20 Championship Tournament. Unless he shows that he can handle the playoffs, Malki may have to be traded before the Penguins win a Cup.