Penguins/NHL
The Pittsburgh Penguins are off to a 2-0 start and the vibe around the league is that the Penguins have that championship vibe about them, similar to the Detroit Red Wings for so many years.
This is a poised and confidence team that learned a ton from their Stanley Cup run.
Locker-room chemistry is a key ingredient to a championship team and Pittsburgh is not lacking in the leadership department. That will go a long way when this team hits a bump in the road.
*As for the on-ice product, I hear from scouts that Pittsburgh has the makings of being a much tougher team to play against with the additions of Michael Rupp and Jay McKee.
*Tyler Kennedy continues to build off of a strong camp and is off to a fast start. It’s going to be very hard for the coaching staff to keep him on the third line.
*Jordan Staal got a few looks at wing with Sidney Crosby when Ruslan Fedotenko was injured in the first period of Saturday‘s game. Bylsma also used Crosby and Evgeni Malkin together on more than a few occasions. Look for that to continue.
*Veteran forward Brendan Shanahan is not on the Penguins radar and won’t be. Pittsburgh has no interest in Shanahan and any talk of the Penguins being interested in the 40 year old veteran is coming from places looking to drive up traffic.
*Pittsburgh Penguins General Manager Ray Shero indicated this week that he made an offer to Islanders winger
Matt Moulson in the summer of 2006, while Moulson told the media that the Penguins never made an offer.
Moulson was drafted 263rd overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He signed with the LA Kings organization in September of 2006. Moulson is now a regular in the Islanders lineup.
*No surprise but Ryan Bayda’s camp is clearly not happy about the team claiming Chris Bourque.
Speaking of Bourque, he was under consideration to play against the Islanders but the coaching staff wants him to get more reps in practice.
The Penguins host the Phoenix Coyotes on Wednesday and then travel to Philadelphia for a showdown with the Flyers on Thursday.
