The team focused on filling out the roster with solid veterans to compliment the developing young core. Radek Dvorak, Jim Slater, and Patrick Dwyer were added up front and Andres Lilja was signed for the back end. Dvorak was seen lining up with Talbot and Marchant in practice, but there is no confirmation whether he'll be there once the regular season starts. Lilja was paired up with Murray in what appears to be a solid defensive stay-at-home pairing. They will be hard-pressed to see significant minutes with the likes of Bouwmeester, Hjalmarsson, and Burns ahead of them on the depth chart.
One key question the organization is facing is whether or not they will sign Cam Fowler to an entry-level contract or keep him in the minors for a season. His offensive ability would be a big boost to the blue-line, but he might need some more time refining his defensive game before he makes the leap to the pros. Keep an eye on this development during the preseason.
In addition to Fowler, LSV signed Alex Burmistrov in round 1, Jonas Enroth and Mattias Tedenby in round 2, Erik Condra in round 4, and Peter Regin in round 6. Selecting Burmistrov so high fueled rumors that Crosby's future with the team is in doubt. With guys like Duchene and Backlund biding for ice time, something will eventually need to give. Regin has now been drafted by Las Vegas in back-to-back seasons. After he was traded to Winnipeg late last season, injuries and a salary increase prompted his release, so GM Bobby Brooks was more than happy to take him back as a much lower price.
Yet, despite all the good news to come out of the offseason, Sidney Crosby's status remains the focal point of the national and local media. There are whispers that the organization has already began fielding offers for the franchise center, but the club neither confirmed nor denied these rumblings.
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