Atlantic

PITTSBURGH
Penguins

LAST SEASON
47-27-8; 2nd in East; lost in finals to Red Wings

KEY ADDITIONS
LW Matt Cooke, LW Ruslan Fedotenko, RW Eric Godard, LW Janne Pesonen, RW Miroslav Satan

KEY LOSSES
G Ty Conklin, RW Adam Hall, RW Marian Hossa, RW Georges Laraque, LW Ryan Malone, LW Gary Roberts, LW Jarkko Ruutu

ENTERING THE off-season with 15 unrestricted free agents, the Penguins knew they were in for a remodeling that, after reaching Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals, they would have preferred to avoid. Lost in the summer exodus were right wing Marian Hossa, a trade-deadline acquisition who had found quick chemistry with top center Sidney Crosby, and integral power forward Ryan Malone. The defections prompted G.M. Ray Shero to sign a pair of skilled if rather less well-rounded wingers in Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko and also to get cracking in securing Pittsburgh's nucleus. Shero locked up flashy 23-year-old goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and punishing defenseman Brooks Orpik—whose relentless, five-hit shift in Game 3 of the finals made him an immediate folk hero—with seven- and six-year deals, respectively; he gave center Evgeni Malkin a five-year extension that will keep him in Pittsburgh through 2014. "It was a busy summer after a long season," Shero says, "and I'd consider it a success."

Agreed, though just how successful will depend on how well Satan and Fedotenko, both competent scorers coming off poor years with the Islanders, can contribute to the offense alongside Crosby (72 points in 53 games) and Malkin (a team-high 47 goals). It was a conspicuous lack of scoring depth that necessitated Hossa's acquisition last season.

"Nothing that happened last year is going to matter this year," says Crosby, trying to move conversation off Pittsburgh's near miss in June. True, except that the Penguins' fine young players—add center Jordan Staal and defenseman Ryan Whitney to the group—should be more prepared for a Cup run after their battle in the finals. Turnover notwithstanding, the Penguins remain the class of the conference.

PHILADELPHIA
Flyers

LAST SEASON
42-29-11, 6th in East; lost in conference final to Penguins

KEY ADDITIONS
F Glen Metropolit, D Ossi Vaananen