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Season preview: Penguins

Stanley Cups: 3

2011-'12 record: 51-25-3-3, 108 points (2nd in Atlantic, 4th in East)

2011-'12 playoffs: Lost to Philadelphia Flyers 4-2.

Coach: Dan Bylsma (165-81-25, 5th NHL year, 1st team)

Top returning scorer: C Evgeni Malkin (50 goals, 59 assists, 109 points)

Top returning goalie: Marc-Andre Fleury (42-17-4, 2.36, .913)

Key additions: G Tomas Vokoun; C Brandon Sutter; D Brian Dumoulin; C Trevor Smith; C Warren Peters; LW Tanner Glass.

Key subtractions: C Jordan Staal; LW Steve Sullivan; RW Arron Asham; RW Richard Park; D Zbynek Michalek; Cal O’Reilly; G Brent Johnson.

Goaltending: Fleury’s dreadful performance in the 2012 post-season led the Penguins to add the veteran Vokoun as support to their Stanley Cup-winning goalie and perhaps to put a little pressure on him. With 287 career wins, Vokoun, 36, ranks sixth among active NHL netminders.

Player to watch: Simon Despres, D. The club's top draft pick in 2009 picked up 1-3-4 totals in 18 games last season and definitely made an impression. He's been paired in training camp with all-star Kris Letang. He's big (6-4, 205), but also mobile and equipped with an offensive upside.

Icing: Malkin produced 23-42-65 totals in 37 games with Magnitogorsk Metallurg of the KHL during lockout . . . Penguins captain Sidney Crosby didn’t play anywhere during lockout, but did start a game in goal for a friend’s ball-hockey team, posting a 4-0 shutout win . . . Penguins were only NHL team with a 50 (Malkin) and 40-goal scorer (James Neal) last season.

Bob Duff writes regularly for NBCSports.com and covers the NHL for the Windsor (Ontario) Star; The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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