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Pittsburgh Penguins

51-25-6, Eastern Conference (4th)
Conference Team RankingsGF AverageGA AveragePower Play
Penguins3.332.6221.59%
Eastern1st9th1st
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Things aren't right on the right side

 
Notes, Quotes · Roster Report · Things aren't right on the right side
 

The Penguins really only have one issue this offseason, but it's a big one. In fact, it's a position. Loaded everywhere else, the Penguins have precisely zero right wings under contract for next season.

Right wings Alex Kovalev and Pascal Dupuis are unrestricted free agents. Kovalev absolutely will not return, while Dupuis' chances of returning to the Penguins are probably 50/50. Other players, such as Craig Adams and Max Talbot, are capable of playing right wing -- Adams, in fact, usually does -- but are also free agents. Eric Godard, the team's enforcer and a right wing, isn't expected back.

Perhaps the most interesting situation this offseason will revolve around right wing Tyler Kennedy. He is a restricted free agent and is coming off his best season, in which he scored 21 goals.

But there also is considerable speculation that the Penguins will trade Kennedy this summer. Given their lack of right wings, this seems curious. However, some within the organization believe Kennedy's numbers will never again reach such heights and that his trade value will never be higher. Kennedy will certainly want a raise following his career season, and given that the Penguins don't have much space under the salary cap, a trade might be a more attractive option to GM Ray Shero.

All of this talk about right wings, of course, brings up a familiar name. The most famous right wing in Penguins history, Jaromir Jagr, is a free agent in the KHL. He mentioned during the World Championships that he would consider a return to the NHL and would love to play again for the Penguins.

Given the Penguins' lack of depth -- or lack of players, more specifically -- at right wing, Jagr makes all the sense in the world. And yet, despite heavy buzz from fans, the Penguins have made it clear -- publicly, anyway -- that they aren't interested in Jagr.

The Penguins will only have a few million dollars to spend in free agency because of the salary cap. Both of their goaltenders -- Marc-Andre Fleury and Brent Johnson -- are under contract for next season. Left wings James Neal, Chris Kunitz, Matt Cooke and Eric Tangradi are under contract, as are centers Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal and Mark Letestu.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT
The Penguins enjoyed many positives during the 2010-11 campaign, none more than Sidney Crosby's 25-game scoring streak in November and December. Crosby scored 32 goals while playing exactly half the season (41 games). His chief competition for world's greatest player, Alex Ovechkin, needed the entire season to score 32 goals.

Crosby has clearly emerged as the game's best player and has never played like he did during the first half of the season, his ascent to hockey immortality well on its way. Only an injury could slow down Crosby, who was enjoying by far his best season.

TURNING POINT
Although the Penguins probably never could have won a championship this season because Crosby and Malkin were out of the lineup, they still believe they should have beaten the Lightning in the first round of the playoffs. Three Dwayne Roloson saves changed everything.

In Game 6, with the score tied 2-2 in the third period, Roloson stopped Max Talbot on a breakaway. He then stopped Talbot's rebound attempt and Pascal Dupuis' rebound attempt. The Penguins never scored again in the series.

Copyright (C) 2011 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.

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