Stanley Cups: 3

2008-'09 record: 45-28-9, 99 points (2nd in Atlantic, 4th in East)

2008-'09 playoffs: Def. Philadelphia Flyers 4-2; def. Washington Capitals 4-3; def. Carolina Hurricanes 4-0; def. Detroit Red Wings 4-3

General manager: Ray Shero (139-79-28, 4th NHL year, 1st team)

Coach: Dan Bylsma (18-3-4, 2nd NHL season, 1st team)

Captain: Sidney Crosby

Top returning scorer: C Evgeni Malkin (35 goals, 78 assists, 113 points)

Top returning goalie: Marc-Andre Fleury (35-18-7, 2.67, .912)

Key additions: C Mike Rupp; D Nate Guenin; RW Chris Conner; Jay McKee; G Brent Johnson.

Key subtractions: G Mathieu Garon; D Hal Gill; D Rob Scuderi; LW Jeff Taffe; C Chris Minard; RW Petr Sykora; RW Bill Thomas; D Philippe Boucher; RW Miroslav Satan; C Mike Zigomanis.

Top line: LW Chris Kunitz, C Sidney Crosby, RW Bill Guerin

Top defensive pairing: Brooks Orpik, Sergei Gonchar

Goaltending: Fleury rebounded from dismal Game 5 of the finals to close door and lead Pens to Cup. Won four of last five games in Cup final series, sprawling to make game-saving stop on Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom in dying seconds of Game 7. Athletic butterfly goalie came up with his best work in the biggest games, helping earn seven-year, $35-million contract.

Player to watch: D Ben Lovejoy. Undrafted free agent from New Hampshire has enjoyed two strong seasons with Wilkes Barre-Scranton (AHL) and could make the jump this season. Led AHL with plus-42 rating last season while working against opposition’s top lines. Mobile blue-liner moves puck well, but lacks a mean streak, despite his imposing (6-foot-2, 215 pound) frame.

Icing: Bylsma took over for fired coach Michel Therrien late last season and installed an aggressive system that woke up the Penguins, vaulted them back into playoff contention and all the way to the team's third Stanley Cup. The Penguins hope the addition of McKee will lessen the blow of losing key defensemen Scuderi and Gill. McKee has played in 740 NHL games in 13 seasons. He was seventh in the league with 185 blocked shots and posted a plus-11 rating with St. Louis last season. Crosby, the youngest NHL captain of a Stanley Cup champion, has 397 points in 290 NHL games over four seasons. His 1.37 points-per-game average is fifth highest in league history.

Outlook: First losing Cup finalist to come back and win the next year since the 1984 Oilers, Pens will be hard-pressed to make three straight trips to the finals, especially with the loss of Scuderi from their defensive corp.

Prediction: 101 points (1st in Atlantic, 3rd in East)

NHL TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEWS Teams listed in predicted order of finish; x-playoff team ATLANTIC x-Penguins x-Flyers x-Devils x-Rangers Islanders Vote: Winner? CENTRAL x-Red Wings x-Blackhawks x-Blue Jackets x-Blues Predators Vote: Winner? NORTHEAST x-Bruins x-Canadiens Sabres Maple Leafs Senators Vote: Winner? NORTHWEST x-Flames x-Canucks Oilers Wild Avalanche Vote: Winner? SOUTHEAST x-Capitals x-Hurricanes Thrashers Panthers Lightning Vote: Winner? PACIFIC x-Sharks x-Ducks Stars Kings Coyotes Vote: Winner?

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