Not sure if even Shero can save us this time....

[abpk2903]

The Pittsburgh Penguins are in grave danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2005-2006 season, which was Crosby's rookie year. They are faced with a stretch run with more questions than answers. They did get some good news yesterday discovering Neal's injury wasn't as serious as originally expected but there is still a laundry list of injuries the Penguins are facing.

This reminds me of the dilemma the Penguins faced for about 5 or 6 years from 1993-1998ish with Mario Lemieux. They have one of the most expensive players in hockey and the best of the generation but keeping them on the ice is becoming dang-near impossible. Crosby is tying up 8.7 million dollars in cap room. Definitely enough to get some top players on the approaching trade deadline market but that is only if they are sure he is not returning this year. Dilemma #2, not sure of the long-term prognosis of Crosby what role players and pieces of the puzzle are you really able to part with. Bringing in a top forward (which is their biggest need right now) will come at the cost of some current role players as well as some future draft picks. If Crosby can return next year some of the cap would then have to leave again with his salary coming back on the books. So it is only a fix for this year at the cost of role players and future picks. If Crosby is looking at even a longer recovery than this year, then losing draft picks and role players could be detrimental to sustainability of success.

The injury woes stretch far outside of just Crosby though. One of the best defenseman in the league, Letang, is battling the concussion bug. Martin is getting back into the line-up but it will take him a while to get his sea-legs. It will be playoff time (if they make it) until Staal is back to form, Neal is able to play but that foot has to be a huge concern, Adams has a bad knee, Jeffery is still recovering from a horrific knee injury nearly a year ago and potentially could be facing another surgery.

This is all while the Penguins have lost 5 straight games, including last nights 5-1 defeat to the lowly Senators.

Its amazing, however, if just one particular player could find his way back on the ice how this team will then be back with the favorites to win the cup. Let's hope for a turn around for Sidney Crosby but I really don't think fans can rely on it.

[pantherxc5]

I'd say they've done a much better job in the last week. Those two wins in Florida, a place where they don't win often, really gave them some confidence, not to mention the fact that Malkin has been brilliant during this win streak. Hopefully he can keep it up because the rest of the team still hasn't produced much offense outside of the first line, although Kennedy looked pretty good last game even though he didn't get on the score sheet.
Really looking forward to how they do tonight against the Rangers. A win could get us into a tie with NJ and make some space between us and the ninth spot. Letang is coming back which will hopefully be a big lift for the offense and the defense. If the D-pairings of Orpik/Letang and Martin/Michalek can play up to potential and stay healthy, there is no way they will miss the playoffs regardless of when and if Crosby comes back and how the rest of the forwards play.

[Crimson's Ghost]

well, yeah. lol.