1)Phil Kessel-The Pens pulled off one of the bigger trades of offseason when they acquired W Phil Kessel from Toronto. Kessel is expected to provide some fire power for the Pens, skating on the top line alongside C Sidney Crosby. When the deal was made, there was talk around town of Kessel's shortcomings, reasons that Toronto was so willing to part with the powerhouse. #1 was that Kessel bristled under the media scrutiny and pressure of the fans in Toronto. They expected him to be the savior to lead them back to the Stanley Cup. Things didn't turn out the way they'd hoped and they turned on Kessel. He, in turn, became prickly with both fans and media alike. In Pittsburgh, Kessel feels he won't be the one in the spotlight that has to carry the team, not with star centers Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Mrs. Black-N-Gold can't help but wonder. If the Pens get off to a slow start, Kessel in particular, will the local media outlets and the fans focus on Kessel and his shortcomings? If so, could that end the love affair with Phil before it even starts? #2 Kessel also came to Pittsburgh with a repuation as a bit of a softy, not known for his workout methods. That's not the case this year. Kessel spent the offseason training with former Penguin and current training guru Gary Roberts (more on him later). Roberts is well regarded for training players in the offseason. If there's anyone that could whip Kessel into shape, it's Roberts. Mrs. Black-N-Gold hopes that the new training regimen and the change of scenery do both Kessel and the Pens some good.
2)The defense-Mrs. Black-N-Gold recently tried to name the defensmen the Pens will be using this season and ran into a roadblock. Of course Kris Letang and Olli Maatta are expected to be the top pairing. Both have a problem staying healthy so who knows how long they'll stay matched up. From there, it's anyone's guess. The Pens did retain deadline pickup Ian Cole. He can help shore up the D. After that there's Ben Lovejoy and greybeard Rob Scuderi. Neither have set the hockey world on fire in recent memory. Then there are youngsters Brian Dumoulin, Tim Erixon and Adam Clendening. Dumoulin spent part of last season with the Pens and can help inject some youth into the lineup. Erixon and Clendening aren't names that strike fear into the hearts of NHL fowards. Derrick Pouliot was expected to make a big contribution to the defense this year and may still do so. For right now, he'll have to do that from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. There will be nights the offense doesn't light up the board, especially in today's NHL. On those such nights, the defense will be called upon to make sure the opposing team is kept off the scoresheet. Too bad Mrs. Black-N-Gold didn't get to see the Pope when he visited the country last week because the Pens are going to need a miracle with this defense.
3)Health-Not only is Roberts working with the Pens to establish a better training program for the players, they're doing so at the brand spanking new UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. The Pens are training and practicing at the facility to get the latest and greatest as they train, both health-wise and nutrition-wise. After losing countless games to injury the past few years, the Penguins are exploring new frontiers to train better and remain healthier. This could go a long way towards a run to the Cup.
4)Marc-Andre Fleury-G Marc-Andre Fleury has played out of his mind the past few years, only to see the Pens flameout in the playoffs. They're bracing themselves for a long run in the postseason this year and will need the Flower to bloom again into late spring. If he wilts under the pressure, the Pens may see themselves on the golf course come May.
As usual, Mrs. Black-N-Gold expects the Pens to hoist the Cup when June rolls around. The Pens window of opportunity is closing quickly, time to make some hay and say hello to Lord Stanley. Let's Go Pens!!!
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