Penguins All-Star Break Update

So it has reached that point in the season where the most popular (not necessarily the best) players take to the ice an participate in the NHL All Star Game. While the Pens get a couple days off, I figured that it's the perfect time to evaluate their progress to this point. They will be judged by Stanley Cups (0-5)

GP: 48 W23 L21 OT4 PTS 50 10th place in Eastern Conference

Centers: Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have led the way once again for the Pens. Both are on pace to break 100 points this season (60 and 70 respectively to this point). Both are All-Stars, but Sid is going to sit out of the game to get healthy. Jordan Staal has picked up the scoring with 14 goals but is a -3, which is not what you want to see out of your best defensive offenseman. The rest of the group have been productive when healthy, but that has been the toughest part.

Stanley Cups: 3.5 out of 5

Left Wing: The Pens are still looking for the top line winger to play with Crosby. One player taking advantage of his audition with Sid the Kid is free agent signee Matt Cooke. Cooke, ususally an enforcer, has used his grit to crash the net and retrieve pucks on a dump and chase type of play. His leadership abilities on and off the ice earned him Alternate Captain. Ruslan Fedotenko, another player not with the Pens last season was starting to show his value before injuring his hand in a fight with Colby Armstrong. The rest of the group have been well, lets just say they have a combined one more goal than I do.

Stanley Cups: 2 out of 5

Right Wing: Petr Sykora is having a good year, recording his 1st career hat trick and with 11 of his 17 goals coming with the man advantage. Miroslav Satan is doing alright, but is under the microscope due to the fleeing of Marian Hossa (who by the way is tearing it up in the Motor City.) Had the Pens been able to sign both Hossa and Satan, then Satan's season would be considered a success. Eric Godard and Biz-Nasty have been good replacements as enforcers, but I still expect GM Ray Shero to make a move to get a scoring winger before the trade deadline.

Stanley Cups: 3 out of 5

Defense: Brooks Orpik has been the staple on the blue line this season. With injuries to Ryan Whitney for most of the 1st half of the season and Sergei Gonchar still out, the Pens have had to rely on Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski for offensive production. Not to knock the latter two, but very few players have the offensive prowess of Whitney and Gonchar. Philippe Boucher has been a decent pick up for Sydor who seemed like a cancer in the locker room. I expect this group to make the biggest improvement after the All-Star break.

Stanley Cups: 2.5 out of 5

Goalies: It seems like Marc-Andre Fleury has taken a step back from last season. However, he did miss signficant time with injury. Even though the Pens acquired Mathieu Garon from the Oilers as a backup, it is going to have to be Fleury to lead the team back into the playoffs. I like the Garon pickup because if Fleury goes down again, Garon has the ability to be a nice stopgap, a definite upgrade over Dany Sabourin. Just a note for down the line, John Curry looks like he could be a legitmate NHL goalie in 2 or 3 years...just sayin.

Stanley Cups: 2.5 out of 5


Prediction: The Pens will right the ship a little bit and make it into the playoffs as the 6th or 7th seed. They might be able to win a 1st round series but if you're expecting another Stanley Cup run, don't get your hopes up. They are still one very good scoring winger away from being title contenders.