26. The best news for the future of the Penguins is that GM Ray Shero was allowed to fight for his vision. Mario Lemieux has more hockey knowledge in his toenail than most of us in our entire bodies, but unless he wants to run the hockey operations, owners have to let their GMs make the decisions. There were a lot of rumours that Lemieux wanted a coaching change. Shero did not. He fought to keep and extend head coach Dan Bylsma. Lemieux allowed it. That is the way successful organizations work.

27. I'm also not surprised the Penguins won't buy out Marc-Andre Fleury. Malkin's eight-year, $76-million extension (and Kris Letang's potential deal) doesn't kick in until next season. You have another year to see if a new goalie whisperer will revive Fleury's game. If it doesn't work, the buyout is less. And Tomas Vokoun proved he can carry the load.