News on Sid and Geno

[ELYEAH82]

It looks like both are progressing very well

Positive injury updates for Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby - ESPN

 

[evolver115]

Bylsma said the team has heard from former Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar, Malkin's countryman and former landlord and mentor when he first broke into the NHL five years ago.

"He's never seen Geno working this hard, looking this good and this motivated at this point of the summer," Bylsma said of Gonchar. "So, I expect a real motivated, real focused guy, and a guy whose body and his injury is ready to go. He's really well beyond (ready), so I think he'll be at full-go coming into training camp and really motivated."

Malkin won the 2008-09 NHL scoring title and was the leading scorer in the playoffs that season, as well, winning the Conn Smythe trophy as postseason MVP while the Penguins won the Stanley Cup.

But he dropped from 113 points that season to 77 in 67 games in 2009-10 and only 37 in 43 games -- the first time he didn't average a point per game in his career -- this past season. Malkin already had a minor nagging knee injury before a collision with Buffalo Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers Feb. 4 ended his season.

I like the sound of Gonchar's report on Geno. Malkin truly is the key to Penguin domination. You can't shadow both Sid and Geno... hence back to back SC final appearances.

 

[NorthCoastSteelersFan]

This is excellent news. I don't claim to know hockey as well as I do football, but I know that having Sid and Geno healthy again is the key to another Cup.

Still, ya gotta give the rest of the team credit for what they accomplished without these two greats.

 

[pixburgher66]

IF these two are healthy and we get Jagr, it's a nasty lineup. Heck, it's a nasty lineup without Jags, but just that much more dangerous with him. Seriously, with a top 6 of:
Kunitz-Crosby-Neal, Staal-Malkin-Jagr ?? That second line (if they cave and move Staalsy over to wing, where he's scored the most goals in his career) is HUUUUGGE. Daunting. It's all about health this year. If healthy, it's Cup or bust. Imagine Fleury playing like he did last year, our very strong top 4 Dmen, those top 2 lines, and honestly a fairly talented bottom 6. The only thing that needs to be fixed is the powerplay. Which it seems Bylsma is devoting his offseason to.

 

[DChero]

IF these two are healthy and we get Jagr, it's a nasty lineup. Heck, it's a nasty lineup without Jags, but just that much more dangerous with him. Seriously, with a top 6 of:
Kunitz-Crosby-Neal, Staal-Malkin-Jagr ?? That second line (if they cave and move Staalsy over to wing, where he's scored the most goals in his career) is HUUUUGGE. Daunting. It's all about health this year. If healthy, it's Cup or bust. Imagine Fleury playing like he did last year, our very strong top 4 Dmen, those top 2 lines, and honestly a fairly talented bottom 6. The only thing that needs to be fixed is the powerplay. Which it seems Bylsma is devoting his offseason to.

I've crossed fingers, toes, you name it, for this. I need to leave work to plat some NHL 11 with that lineup.