So how do the Penguins of ’06-’07 compare to the Pens of old?
Very well, thank you. With superstar Sidney Crosby, we have a player capable of Lemieux style play. Fancy passes, a goal scored from every conceivable position, and intelligent play reminds you of Mario.
And Malkin, a bigger sniper, not quite the typical power forward, like Kevin Stevens, but willing to take hits as well as give them, cause havoc in front of the net, and score goals. A partner of Sid’s or on a line of his own, he can be dangerous all over the ice. 
Then there’s Jordan Staal, the youngest newbie, only 19 years old. Puck-handling skills and a scoring touch, with quick take-aways and speed on the ice. Not an exact match, but Jaramir Jagr in his second season was coming into his own similarly. 
The similarities continue throughout the line-up. Sergei Gonchar/Paul Coffey, Ryan Whitney/Larry Murphy, Ryan Malone/Troy Loney, Jarkko Ruutu/Ulf Samuelsson, Maxime Talbot/Rick Tocchet. Even time shared among the goalies is strikingly similar. 
What we all in Penguin Nation hope to be similar is the results. The ’91-’92 Pens won their second Cup. These ’06-’07 Pens hope for such results.
Youth Served
This Penguin team is younger, more inexperienced and yet seem more driven. No deficit is too far back for them to overcome. They will go as far as their optimism will take them. Never before has a team with this much young talent been in the playoffs, or in the NHL for that matter. Others seem to think their youth will be their downfall. Maybe.
Or it may be their greatest strength. A couple of youngsters may be awestruck, overcome by the pressure of the playoff. But, with Crosby and Fleury, having played for their countries in international competition, Malkin played on the best Russian team, and with a lot of the rest of the team having played for the Baby Penguins in Wilkes-Barre fighting in the championship the last two years, these guys are pretty well seasoned. Toss in a Mark Recchi, Gary Roberts and a Georges Laraque, who add experience and playoff knowledge, you have a good mixed of need and want.
In summary, if the Pittsburgh Penguins play like they can, get solid goaltending, and use their youth to their advantage, the sky’s the limit. And that would be the Stanley Cup, sitting at the bottom of Mario Lemieux’s pool. Again.
