Being bad enough allowed Penguins to become good

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: November 19, 2008 - 7:46 AM

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PITTSBURGH - Losing isn't fun, but the Pittsburgh Penguins are proof it can pay dividends.

Being lousy allowed the Penguins to draft Ryan Whitney fifth in 2002, Marc-Andre Fleury first in 2003, Evgeni Malkin second in 2004 and Jordan Staal second in 2006.

In 2005, the league held a weighted post-lockout lottery, and the Penguins won the "Sidney Crosby" Sweepstakes.

"It saved this franchise," General Manager Ray Shero said.

In Minnesota, "The lowest we picked was third, and that was our first year because it was given to us [as an expansion team by the NHL]," coach Jacques Lemaire said.

When GM Doug Risebrough hired Lemaire, he was all but guaranteeing a competitive product that would inhibit the Wild's ability to pick cream-of-the-crop prospects.

"Jacques always said, 'The best way to make a team better is to be bad, Doug,' but he can't be that way," Risebrough said, laughing. "We had a fundamental choice to make. I think we've set up a very high competitive standard and team concept because we wanted to be successful. And I think our fan base's loyalty is because of that success, so how can I say, 'Boy, if we were only bad, we'd have all these stars.'

"Being bad is not fun for anybody."

In Pittsburgh, "They went through tough times, but to get Crosby and Malkin, that's incredible luck, too," said Shero, the former Nashville Predators assistant GM. "You pick that high, it has to be in the right year. Ask [Wild owner] Craig Leipold. His first year in Nashville, we had the second overall pick. David Legwand is a decent player, but he's not these players."

There is a risk of having so many top draft picks. In Pittsburgh, Whitney and Fleury are locked up long-term. Crosby and Malkin have signed long-term at an annual cap hit of $8.7 million.

Now, Shero's trying hard to get Staal signed. Shero met with Staal's agent, Paul Krepelka, on Tuesday, and one would think a short-term deal will be achieved soon.

"But we're really the first team under the new system that has been pressed with salaries with our younger players," Shero said. "We have two young superstars who took less than they could have gotten on the open market. Staal is the last one. I want to sign him. To see how good he is at 20, I can only imagine where he'll be at 22, 24 years old."

Goalie recalled

Wild goalie Nolan Schaefer was recalled on an emergency basis because backup Josh Harding suffered a slight "lower body strain."

"As they say, you only need one good [goalie]," said Lemaire, meaning Niklas Backstrom is healthy.

To make room, the Wild placed defenseman Tomas Mojzis on waivers. If he clears, Mojzis can be sent to the minors. But it's also possible the Wild keeps Mojzis if it returns Schaefer to Houston or places Harding on injured reserve.

Dupuis excited

Pascal Dupuis, an original Wild team member, is on his third team since Minnesota traded him to the Rangers two seasons ago, but it was his first game against the Wild.

"Finally," said Dupuis, who played with Crosby and Marian Hossa during the Penguins' playoff run. "There are still faces in the room over there, so it's exciting for me. I'm known as a defensive forward, and it's obviously because of [Lemaire]. He was a good teacher."

Boogard scratched

Colton Gillies, scratched in three of the past four games, returned. Derek Boogaard was scratched.

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