Penguins don't need blockbuster trade

By Joe Starkey
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, February 24, 2008



Petr Sykora (17) and Evgeni Malkin

No, it wasn't pretty watching the Penguins blow a three-goal lead Saturday to the visiting Ottawa Senators in a 4-3 overtime loss.

But the game should have absolutely no bearing on general manager Ray Shero's mindset going into Tuesday's 3 p.m. trade deadline.

This loss was representative of nothing and need not have long-term implications, just as the Senators blowing a three-goal lead to the Penguins on home ice last March -- and losing two subsequent nail-biters to the Penguins -- didn't linger.

Relax.

And know this: Regardless of what happens before the trade deadline, no team is about to add more talent than the Penguins.

The roster influx will include the NHL's defending scoring champion (Sidney Crosby), a 40-game winner in goal (Marc-Andre Fleury) and a hardcore playoff specialist (Gary Roberts).

That's pretty a good deal for a team that has flourished of late -- yesterday's hiccup aside.

Could the Penguins use a scoring winger for Crosby? Of course. Vinny Prospal comes to mind as a potential rental player, and several reports have the Penguins pursuing Tuomo Ruutu, Jarkko's younger brother. That would be a logical move, because Tuomo - a top-line talent -- has underachieved (six goals in 58 games) and thus could be had for a reasonable return.

Remember, the bigger the name, the heftier the price. A future first-round pick or even last year's first-rounder, Angelo Esposito, should be in play. Jordan Staal should be off-limits. Core prospects, such as defenseman Alex Goligoski, must be retained.

At worst, Shero needs to find a physical defenseman and a maybe a faceoff specialist.

Meanwhile, though nearly a quarter of the season remains, it looks as if the Penguins have as good a chance as anyone in the wide-open Eastern Conference and will be a significantly better team than they were heading into last year's playoffs.



Ty Conklin

The top five reasons, in descending order:

5. Experience. The youngsters who form the nucleus of the club were shell-shocked last spring (remember the first period of the Ottawa series?). Now, they know what to expect.

4. Another option in goal. In all likelihood, you'll see plenty of Ty Conklin and Fleury before the season's final buzzer. A lot can happen in 20 games, plus the playoffs - which constitute another entire season.

3. More depth up front. Petr Sykora was an excellent offseason addition who thrived in an expanded role when Crosby went down. He gives the Penguins an entirely different look from what Ottawa saw last season. Ask Senators goalie Ray Emery, who still hasn't reacted to Sykora's rifle blast from the left circle at 1:47 of the first period yesterday. Ryan Malone has solidified himself as a legit top-six forward. Tyler Kennedy adds youthful vigor and a decent scoring touch in place of last year's late-season burnout, Mark Recchi. Several role players will generate a healthy competition for available ice time.

2. Upgraded defense. The puck won't stay buried in the Penguins' end as long because guys like Kris Letang and Darryl Sydor can move it quickly.

1. Evgeni Malkin. This time last year was about when Malkin started to fade - understandably so, given all he'd endured over the previous seven months, including his adjustment to the North American game. Now, he's a bona fide star and eager, one would assume, to prove it come playoff time.

The Penguins might not reach last year's regular-season total of 105 points, but they should be steeled for a better playoff run, no matter what happens by 3 p.m. Tuesday.


Joe Starkey is a sports writer for the Tribune-Review. He can be reached at jstarkey@tribweb.com.