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Pens have to go through Tampa for title

The Associated Press Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning are accustomed to short offseasons. This one, the Lightning captain said, “wasn’t as fun as the previous two.” The Stanley Cup relocated to Colorado after the Avalanche dethroned the two-time defending champion Lightning in a six-game final in July. The Eastern Conference, however, still seems very likely to run through Tampa Bay. Despite another round of offseason, salary cap-forced departures, the Lightning believe they remain the team to beat. “Sure, there are a lot of factors that are going against us ...

Business booming as NHL set to begin

On the ice Season opener: Arizona Coyotes at Pittsburgh Penguins When: Thursday, Oct. 13 Time: 7 p.m. By Stephen Whyno The Associated Press Cale Makar won the Stanley Cup and earned playoff MVP honors after a season in which he was voted the NHL’s best defenseman. He may be the best hockey player in the world, and still he looks around at Connor McDavid, Patrick Kane, Auston Matthews and Colorado teammate Nathan MacKinnon and marvels at all the talent. “I just hope it’s fun for fans to watch,” Makar said. “It’s a great time for hockey.” Hard to argue with ...

Pens, Crosby not worrying about birthdays

By Will Graves The Associated Press PITTSBURGH — Sidney Crosby doesn’t remember worrying about his age when he was 18. He’s not about to do it now that he’s nearly double that. So what if the 35-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins captain has been in the NHL nearly half his life? His ...

Old faces, new purpose for ’22-23 Pens

On the ice The Penguins open up their exhibition season Sunday with a 1 p.m. game against Columbus. The regular-season opener is Thursday, Oct. 13, at home with Arizona. By Will Graves The Associated Press CRANBERRY, Pa. — The angst was real. For Evgeni Malkin. And Sidney Crosby. And Kris Letang. And just about everyone else associated with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The trio that’s served as the franchise’s bedrock for the better part of two decades understood they were heading into a summer of uncertainty, a time when the business of professional hockey might get in the ...

Pens give Sullivan 3-year extension

By Will Graves The Associated Press PITTSBURGH — Mike Sullivan doesn’t believe coaches have a “shelf life.” Apparently, neither do his bosses. The Pittsburagh Penguins signed their two-time Stanley Cup-winning head coach to a contract extension on Tuesday that runs through the 2026-27 season, a pact that doubled as a vote of confidence in the club’s iconic core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang and the fiery Sullivan’s ability to lead them. Sullivan still had two years remaining on his current contract. Yet Fenway Sports Group, which purchased the ...

Pens stay intact for another run with vets

Several hours into NHL free agency, the Washington Capitals had two new goaltenders and a replacement for the defenseman they lost to Seattle. They were far from done. They traded for winger Connor Brown, signed forwards Dylan Strome and Henrik Borgstrom and defenseman Gabriel Carlsson, and brought back versatile homegrown product Marcus Johansson to extend his second stint in Washington. While the New York Rangers made a splash by adding Vincent Trocheck and the Columbus Blue Jackets did the same by signing Johnny Gaudreau, no Eastern Conference contender overhauled its roster more ...