Mad World
Penguins Rising
By Mark Madden

As the Penguins prepare to enter another golden era, it's amusing to note that their two biggest off-seasons were orchestrated by means of self-sabotage.

In 1983-84, then-General Manager Eddie Johnston shamelessly manipulated his roster anytime the putrid Penguins manufactured even meager momentum.

"Stars" like Mike Bullard were immune to E.J.'s machinations, but marginal players who performed well got banished to the press box or the minors. The result was a last-place finish and the opportunity to draft Mario Lemieux.

After the Penguins appeared in the Eastern Conference finals in 2000-01, GM Craig Patrick spent the next three seasons dumping high-priced stars. It was hardly haphazard. Patrick saw a salary cap on the NHL's horizon, so he cleared the decks of players who were good then, but not as good now. He eliminated obligations and created the future ability to spend.

Getting Sidney Crosby via the NHL's draft lottery was a stroke of luck.

Having the cap room to acquire Sergei Gonchar, John LeClair, Ziggy Palffy and Jocelyn Thibault was a stroke of genius. Patrick beat the system before the system was even in place.

The ironies of the current Penguins situation are thick and delicious.

Lemieux took mediocre talents like Rob Brown and Warren Young and made them rich. He took good players like Kevin Stevens and Rick Tocchet and made them great. Now, as Lemieux's legendary career cascades toward its sell-by date, along comes Crosby to elevate him.

Pittsburgh is now the epicenter of the hockey universe thanks to the simultaneous presence of Crosby and Lemieux. Given the high ticket prices for Maple Leafs games, it's cheaper for a Toronto resident to come watch a game in Pittsburgh, and that includes gas and hotel. The Mellon Arena press box will be lousy with the international hockey media. YetÑno matter how many games they sell out this seasonÑthere remains a strong possibility the Penguins won't be in Pittsburgh past 2007.

For Penguins fans, it's time to live for the moment.

That's not a bad thing.

The Lemieux-Crosby combination figures to be the team's focal point. Lemieux will move to left wing, enabling Crosby to play center. Lemieux has largely been a playmaker since ending his retirement, but Mario must go back to the future if Crosby's talents are to be fully exploited. Lemieux is the best finisher in NHL history. Mario has hardly forgotten how to score. If he has, Crosby's passing will remind him.

Palffy is a top-notch goal-scorer. But if he completes the first line as expected, his biggest contribution will be speed that opens up the ice for Lemieux and Crosby.

It's tough to predict the other line combinations. The center situation has yet to be resolved because the Penguins were not able to pull Evgeni Malkin out of Russia.

Regardless of who joins LeClair and Mark Recchi on the second line, the Penguins should be aiming to make Konstantin Koltsov and Ryan Malone third-liners. A team with players like that on the third line is a team capable of going far in the playoffs.

The defense is set, but shaky. Gonchar can play a ton, he has the puck a lot, and he'll work offensive miracles behind the top line. Brooks Orpik is a solid physical presence. Ric Jackman and Dick Tarnstrom are treasures in Pittsburgh, but were trash elsewhere. Young defensemen like Ryan Whitney and Noah Welch could provide a major upgrade sooner, not later.

Fate did Marc-Andre Fleury a favor when Crosby came to Pittsburgh. All eyes will be on Crosby, so Fleury can develop at his own pace. But winning is possible now, so the Penguins will start Thibault. But if Fleury mines his vast potential a bit better than he has in the minors so far, a significant role is possible.

Much of the Penguins' fate depends on the NHL's allegedly renewed dedication to cracking down on obstruction.

If penalties are plentiful, the Penguins could finish first overall. No kidding. Their power play will be tops in the league by an overwhelming margin. Consistently producing with the man advantage requires players to fill certain niches, and the Penguins have standouts wherever you look. Gonchar at quarterback. LeClair in the slot. Lemieux on the half-board. Crosby, Palffy and Recchi will be major contributors. Don't forget about Tarnstrom, Jackman and Malone. The Penguins' second PP unit will be better than the first power play employed by most teams.

Eddie Olczyk did a marvelous job coaching scrubs to a red-hot finish in 2003-04. But can he coach stars?

Of course he can. Olczyk was an excellent player himself. He scored 342 NHL goals. Olczyk will now coach players of his own ilk. His job actually figures to be easier.

The Penguins have again risen from the ashes of orchestrated tanking to have a championship contender. When Lemieux came to Pittsburgh, a Stanley Cup was inevitable. Players that good almost always win it all eventually. Let's hope the same is true with Crosby.

And let's hope it all happens in Pittsburgh.

Mark Madden hosts a sports talk show 3-7 p.m. weekdays on ESPN Radio 1250.