Encouraging Signs for Pens

I have had this column written for a couple weeks now but kept holding off expecting bigger and better news to break on Sidney Crosby’s return as well as the proper time to post it to comment on the Penguins’ playoff positioning. Well if I wait any longer the playoffs are going to start and before you know it someone is hoisting the Stanley Cup over their head. So screw it, we still don’t know when or even if Crosby is going to return and the Penguins can still finish anywhere from first to fifth in the Eastern Conference standings but no matter the outcome of either situation, there has certainly been some encouraging signs for the club lately.

First, and it is a bit dated at this time but still very newsworthy is the three year contract extension the Penguins rewarded Coach Dan Bylsma with a few weeks back, and deservedly so! What’s remarkable is that it seems like “Disco Dan” just took over the reins from Michel Therrien and he is already just a little over one full season away from being the Penguins’ longest tenured coach in their 40 plus year history. See, hockey coaches usually don’t last long. The Penguins franchise record is held by Red Kelly, who coached a total of 274 games from 1969-1973. Michel Therrien is second with 272 games. For those that don’t feel like doing the math that is barely over three full seasons in which the Penguins’ longest tenured coach was in charge. That probably means Bylsma’s contract extension doesn’t ensure his job is safe but it does show that GM Ray Shero believes his style of play and his personality are a perfect fit with this team. I couldn’t agree more. With Shero and Bylsma leading the organization for the foreseeable future it is an encouraging sign for the long term success of the team.

Even more encouraging for both the short term and long term good of the franchise is that Sidney Crosby has resumed skating again and even joining his teammates in pregame skates. Sure, it is still early in his attempt at returning from the post-concussion symptoms that has kept him out since January but any good news is welcome when it comes to the franchise’s most important player. Crosby has yet to partake in contact drills but with all sources saying how great Crosby has looked in his current routine we shouldn’t expect for it to be long before he takes part in a full contact practice. If Crosby can clear that hurdle, and I fully expect him to do so at this point, there is a pretty good chance that he could return at some point during the playoffs.

You might remember that it wasn’t long ago that I said the Penguins had no shot at winning the Stanley Cup this year without Crosby in the line-up. I still hold that to be true, but the last and most encouraging sign for at least this year has been the team’s play of late. Marc-Andre Fleury has taken his game to a new level, truly becoming a franchise goaltender. The defense continues to play well and the Penguins are getting scoring contributions from a number of different players up front. The team won’t win the Stanley Cup without Crosby because they are still unable to put the puck in the net with enough regularity, and that has a ton to do with their truly dreadful power-play over the past month, but they have proven they have the ability to steal a round or two and possibly give Crosby more time to make it back if he isn’t ready at the outset of the playoffs.

The Penguins have two regular season games remaining and a lot is still to be decided but the more important season is now in clear view. The Stanley Cup playoffs are just around the corner and the Penguins have a lot of encouraging signs as the playoffs approach both for this year’s team and the foreseeable future. Let’s just keep our fingers crossed for Crosby’s return, whenever that may be.