Monday's Pens Tidbits: Pens most complete team in NHL?

Even without Sidney Crosby, the Penguins have been regarded as one of the NHL's most complete teams and the Penguinas depth has been on display through three games, going 2-0-1 and taking a possible 5 of 6 points on the team's opening Western Canada Swing.

"We got five out of six points," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said on Sunday. "I like that. We got some wins in tough places. We've played a lot of hockey already and I think that showed in this game. A lot of guys got taxed. But we're happy with our start."

Being regarded as one of the NHL's most complete teams is what's made the Penguins a hot pick for a return to the Stanley Cup this season.

They showed their depth against a Cup Contender in Vancouver and overwhelmed a Calgary team that isn't among the NHL's elite but figure to battle for a playoff spot this season.

The Penguins got all three teams in their home and season opener and were able to withstand that early momentum, and energy teams have in their home opener, especially Canadian hot beds like Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.

Depth: The Penguins have 8 different Goal Scorers and 12 players have recorded at least a point.

Letang a work horse through three games: Kris Letang leads the Penguins with 5 points, 1 goal - 4 assists. Letang is averaging 27:08 of ice time, a team high. He has been a workhorse on the power play, leading the Penguins with 17:36 of ice time.

He's off to the type of start offensively we saw from him in the first half of last season, where he was finding a way to get to rack up points on a nightly basis when he wasn't even on top of his game.

Staal taking next step offensively?... but not in face off circle: Scouts I've talked with who had seen Jordan Staal in the preseason believed Staal is maturing as a player offensively. He's finding ways to get points, averaging a point per game so far, with a goal and 2 assists.

Staal though has struggled out of the gates in the faceoff circle. Staal has won 26 of 61 draws (42.5%) and has been poor on special teams.

Staal has won 1 of 6 draws on the power play and has lost 7 of 10 draws on the penalty kill.