PSR Showdown
Are The Pens Stanley Cup Contenders?

Absolutely
By Jeff Hathhorn
KDKA Radio

Who says this isn't the year for the Pens to return the Stanley Cup to Mellon Arena?

Yes, they're still young - many key players only playoff experience was the short series loss to Ottawa last Spring. But it's not the same group that lost to a red-hot Senators team, even though the roster looks similar. Each player has a years worth of experience, they've seen what it takes to get to a Cup final and they've added a couple of key veterans.

Edmonton's leading scorer last year, Petr Sykora, thought so much of the Pens, he made them his top priority when looking for a new team. Sykora has been in three Stanley Cup finals and says he's never played around more talent.

Upon his first few days around his new teammates, defenseman Darryl Sydor says it's a tight, close group - and those are the teams that win.

Mark Recchi and Gary Roberts have the experience and leadership come playoff time that can help this team do great things this spring.

Another year's experience for captain Sidney Crosby. Jordan Staal is back at center. Twenty-year-old Evgeni Malkin scored 85 points while dealing with a set of circumstances Ronald Reagan would have written a speech about. Erik Christensen has had an off-season to work on being a capable goal-scoring winger, not to mention his ability to win a game in a shootout.

They have solid role players in instigator Jarkko Ruutu, Max Talbot and Colby Armstrong. Kris Letang is expected to impact the defense, and more importantly brings a right-handed shot to the power play. At 24, defenseman Ryan Whitney continues to improve and don't forget about Sergei Gonchar, second among NHL defensemen with 67 points last year.

Did I mention the goalie? Twenty-two-year-old Marc-Andre Fleury won 40 games with a .906 save percentage last year, and maybe more than anyone will benefit from the playoff experience last season.

Sure Philadelphia and the Rangers have spent a lot of money, and Ottawa is probably the team to beat, but who thought the Hurricanes would win in 2006?

A Cup will rise before Mellon Arena falls.

Jeff Hathhorn is the sports director for KDKA Radio 1020 AM.