Sure. Pittsburgh sucks. But there are some things you can’t deny:

1) Mario Lemieux is freaking diesel. He’s 9% body fat, he’s lost 12 pounds, and his shoulders are getting thicker. I didn’t even know that was possible.

2) The Penguins may have only one line, but it’s looking like it will be a doozy. Mario Lemieux, Marty Straka and Konstantin Kolstov. Kolstov put up a hat trick playing on that line against the Blue Jackets. Coach Eddie Olczyk seems pretty content to keep those three together until the magic is gone. As Mark Madden points out, it’s not easy finding Lemieux someone to skate with.

3) Marc-Andre Fleury might be too good for the Penguins. The Penguins are scared they won’t be able to afford to actually sign their number one draft pick. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that most number one draft pick contracts since Joe Thornton’s have been based on incentives. No rookie has maxed out the contract yet. But it’s looking like Fleury might be good enough to actually meet the rookie goalie incentives. He’s just too good.