State of the Penguins

Let's make one thing perfectly clear... I have always been against the break in the NHL season for the Olympics.

It makes no sense. Does any other sport break up the season and take two weeks off for the Olympics? No. Now, I think that American Football would make an excellent Olympic event. I think that America would obviously dominate early on -- from a schematic standpoint as well as a talent standpoint -- but I think that, ultimately, the NFL would end up recruiting out of China and Bratislava. That would expand the talent pool. Just like it did in baseball. And basketball. As of 60 years ago, we dominated in those two sports and the officials had to cheat in unholy ways in order for any non-US team to be competitive. But, now, China is the biggest emerging market for the NBA and a number of MLB teams have state-of-the-art training facilities in the Dominican Republic. In 30 years, we could be talking about what a great quarterback Quinyoung Nguyen is instead of talking about the fact that it's great that Hines Ward finally made it.

But... I think that it's just what the doctor ordered for the Penguins this season. They were reeling, they were inconsistent, the specter of the Olympics was hanging over Fleury. They needed a break. They were 7-0 in shootouts before they finally lost one to Nashville. And they lost that game to the Predators because the Predators wanted it more. They wanted to go into the break strong... the Pens just needed a break.

Only five Penguins are in the Olympics. They're only one point out of first place in their division. They must understand that floundering their way through the regular season, then turning it on when the playoffs hit is not a good strategy.

Sure, the Capitals are on the horizon, but they were on the horizon last season and I still trust our guys against their guys in a seven game set.

I think that this is a solid, solid team that just needed to catch their breath. Sure, Malkin, Crosby, and Fleury will play a hundred bajillion games in the next two weeks, but they'll be sure to learn things from their accomplished compatriots. Dan Bylsma and everyone that wasn't invited to Vancouver will be sure to rest, re-charge, and reflect.

This is a critical time for the Penguins and I think they get it done. I think that they will come out of this break focused, angry, and aggressive. Does that equate to another Cup? I have no idea. But I do know that they will come out of this break a better team than they entered it.

And, dammit, when you have three of the 15 best players in the world on your team, that has to count for something.