Welcome back Pens Fans! It is time to forget the past and look forward to the future. Get that blown, two-game lead in last years first round of playoffs to the Tampa Bay Lightning out of your head. Forget that the Pens nearly won the division without Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. That is the past, meaning it already happened, and we can't change it. However, there are many more questions entering this season. The Pond will look at three of the most interesting. One of them will not be about Sid's brain because it has been discussed to much at this point, and we know the answer: We don't know when he will be back, but he should be back.
Question 1: Which Evgeni Malkin will we see this year?
With Sidney Crosby likely to be on the shelf for sometime, the Penguins' Russian Superstar needs to get back to his superstar status. In the 2008-09 season Geno took the team to new levels. He won the Art Ross Trophy by outscoring fellow countryman Alexander Ovechkin by three points. Then Geno elevated his game to an even higher level during the playoffs when he led all players in scoring en route to the Conn Smythe Trophy. Not only was Geno's game great offensively, he also led the league in take-aways during the regular season. Geno was simply a monster on both sides of the ice.
Then in the past two seasons, Malkin seemed to be suffering from nagging injuries until his season was cut short by a knee injury. Malkin says he is 100% and ready to cary this team, if Sid is can't go for some time.
The question is, whether Geno can be the player he thinks he can be. If so, the Pens will still be a threat to lift the holy grail come next June. If he is healthy, it will make our lives much easier until Sid can lace them up again.
Question 2: Will Eric Tangradi finally make some type of impact on the organization?
Eric Tangradi was immediately the Pens' top prospect in their system the minute he came from the Anaheim Ducks as a part of a deal that send Ryan Whitney the other way. Tangradi is a big power forward who could make a huge contribution in front of net. However, it has been the exact opposite, and Tangradi's progress hasn't been anything spectacular to this point. Entering his 3rd year as a professional, he certainly has his work cut out for him to make a roster spot with the Pens' NHL team. This year could be a make-or-break season for the Big Dog and it's going to be interesting to see how he performs during the preseason.
Question 3: Will the power play keep us in our seats instead of going to get another beer?
Let's cut to the chase, the Pens' power play was atrocious last year. Actually, it was worse than that. It was so bad that if we took an even-up penalty the result may have been better. Our power play was a main factor in losing the Tampa series. The power play went 1 for 35 in 7 games. That needs repeated because it's that bad: 1 for 35. Two or three more power play goals and the Pens make it to the second round.
The power play has got to be better. It's that simple. If' it's not, then the Pens won't be that dangerous of a team. This team needs power play goals during big time situations of big games. It hasn't happened the past two seasons. If the power play is as bad as it has been the past two years, stock up on whatever your vice is because we will need it.
Those are only three of the questions that will be answered during this season and as this season moves along, more questions will surface. Welcome back to hockey season. Buckle up and enjoy the ride. Let's Go Pens.
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