ROSTER THOUGHTS AND TURNOVER

The roster of the Pittsburgh Penguins at the start of the 2006-07 season.

The roster of the Pittsburgh Penguins at the end of the 2006-07 season.

The roster of the 2007-08 Pittsburgh Penguins on August 8, 2007.

Notable Summer Additions to the 2006-07 roster: Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal,Mark Recchi, Jarko Ruutu, Nils Ekman, Dominic Moore, Ronald Petrovicky, Mark Eaton, Kristopher Letang, Michel Ouellet

Notable In Season Departures from the 2006-07 roster: Kristopher Letang (back to junior), John Leclair (retirement), Dominic Moore (traded)

Notable In-Season Changes to the 2006-07 roster: Max Talbot, Erik Christiansen (recalled from Wilkes-Barre), Gary Roberts, Georges Laraque (acquired via trade)

(Note: I didn't deem Chris Thorburn, Alain Nasreddine, or Joel Kwiatkowski, all that notable, nor is Noah Welch listed as "notable" for the mere fact that he wasn't on the big league roster at the start of the 2006-07 season.)

Now, for the 2007-08 season, what we know thus far:

Notable Summer Additions: Petr Sykora, Darryl Sydor (acquired via unrestricted free agency), Dany Sabourin, and (probably) Kris Letang

Notable Summer Subtractions: Michel Ouellet, Josef Melichar, Nils Ekman, Ronald Petrovicky, Jocelyn Thibeault

One guarantee comes with a NHL season, and that is this: The exact Pittsburgh Penguins team that begins the 2007-08 season will not be the same team that concludes the 2007-8 season. Player personnel will change.

So, for the moment, without offering my own commentary (there will be plenty of time for that later this summer), here are some questions for thought.**

1.) Will any players "surprise" in training camp and unexpectedly (a la Jordan Staal and Kris Letang) make the big league roster? Of those players, who will remain in the NHL the entire season? Who will be a contributing member to the team throughout the entire season?

2.) Which Wilkes-Barre players may not make the team out of training camp but will carve out permanent positions on the NHL team by season's end? How and when do you expect this player or players to find their way to Pittsburgh? Where will they find their niche?

3.) Will any veteran player, a la John Leclair, unexpectedly find themselves traded or out of the game entirely? How, when, and why will this occur?

4.) Which "piece of the future" (a la Noah Welch last season) may end up being sacrificed for the "present of the playoffs"? Who will be likely to go, and for what type of return?

5.) Who will be the most pleasant surprise (scoring-wise, e.g., think Staal's 29 goals of a year ago)? Who will fail to meet expectations (scoring wise, think Colby Armstrong's failure to score as he did when first alongside Crosby in 05-06)?


** In answering such questions, please accept that "no one" is an acceptable answer. Please also refrain from inane Malkin/Staal proposals (I know it's summertime, but really, it's nowhere time for such a trade at this point in the team's development). Likewise, please refrain from daydream trades (example: Gonchar + 2 tier-2 prospects=Shea Weber or Chris Pronger). Amuse yourselves merrily in the midst of summer.**

Oh, and one more *bonus* question, just for kicks:

The Penguins can obviously not afford to lose Sidney Crosby and Marc-Andre Fleury for any length of time. After the league's MVP and the team's starting goaltender, who can the Penguins LEAST afford to lose to an injury for an extended period of time? (I think I tentatively say Ryan Whitney, but I'll continue to ponder that question as well as my rationale for my tentative response.)