Best. Penguins. Preview. Ever.

Don't care who you are, Wallace and Gromit will kick your ass.

Back to the point, Pensblog absolutely dominated their Penguins season preview. I nearly cried.

Even if you don't read Pensblog (and if you don't, you suck), any season preview means the season is about to start. I'm expecting big things from Sid and Co. this season. Every hockey "expert" can go eat me with their New York Ranger-bandwagon-jump-on-ing (sorry, that was the best I could do). Ooooh...they got Chris Drury, they should be the favorite to win the East. Bullshit. Last I checked, we still have the reigning league MVP (and Gary Roberts...and Georges Laraque). Sure, Drury makes the Rangers better, but its sick how the "experts' are already foaming at the mouth over New York.

Last I checked, they had the bottom-rung Staal brother. Pens have Jordan "Upped My Cred By Getting Arrested" Staal. End of argument.

Those of you who haven't been around these parts since PSaMP was founded (all of you) don't know that the Penguins were the muse for this blog. PSaMP was born out of my overflowing emotions as the team announced that they wouldn't be leaving Pittsburgh. That caused me to create this blog and write the first (shitty) post. And during those formative times, all I covered was the Pens. Pirates season hadn't started, the Steelers were a distant memory, and the massive strides made by Sid and Co. filled my every thought.

Now, with the '07-'08 season about to start, all I can do is bow to Pensblog for giving such an amazing preview. Well done.

Oh God, its time.

Despite Shero's Claim, Pens Sign Several Early Free Agents

Ray Shero denied that the team was interested in signing free agents on Sunday, the opening day of the free agent market. The big names went off the board, and Shero stayed true to his claim. Briere to Philly (damn), Drury and Gomez to the Rangers (damn, again). However, Shero did add some pieces among the 2nd tier free agents that could help the team immediately. Here's a quick recap:

First and foremost, D Ryan Whitney was inked to a 6 yr./$24 mil contract. Whitney just got paid, and the signing was well worth it. Safe to say I'm thouroughly pleased that Whitney will be around for awhile.

More help on the blue line, as Shero signed defenseman Darryl Sydor. He's a 2-time All-Star who has also won 2 Stanley Cups. Shero wanted experience...Shero got experience.

And what about the winger that everyone claimed we needed to sign? Well, Ray Ray continued the experience-theme, signing veteran winger Petr Sykora. PSaMP was never a huge fan of Sykora, mainly because he played for the hated Devils. He does, though, have his name on the Cup, so signing him was a no-brainer that I can accept.

Goalie Dany Sabourin is back. In his relatively short career, Sabourin has bounced between the Flames, Pens and most recently, the Canucks. He backed up Vezina-winner Roberto Luongo last season. Will this signal the end of the Jocelyn Thibault-era?

I'm exhausted. I didn't think I'd have to update on so many free agent signings within the first 24 hours of free agency. Get to know these players, Pens fans. They'll be the guys helping the team to its first Cup since '92!