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I don't really know what to think of the upcoming season.  I'm sure that our stellar offense will keep up the grit and grind but what about the special teams and better yet the defense?  I wouldn't have cared if we only lost Hal Gill OR Rob Scuderi but we lost BOTH.  That doesn't bode well with me.  I love Hal more then beating the Brownies but I wasn't ashamed to see him go.  I mean how many times did we see the oaf bumble down the ice and be about 1500 yards out of position.  I was at a Pens - Panthers game in Florida three rows from the ice, and many of you might remember this.  It was about halfway through the 1st and the puck came flying through the air down towards the flower.  The only people in the area were old Hal and some random Panthers player.  Hal decided instead of leaving the puck to hit the ice, that he would smack it out of the air harder then a beach volleyball player.  Well this swipe went straight backwards, the FLA player got it, and buried it right behind la flower.  The point is how many times a year did we see that happen?  How many times did Hal have no idea if he was holding a hockey stick or a baseball bat?  Did he even fight the whole year?  I honestly cannot recall one time seeing him show any sign of emotion besides complete and utter confusion.  You have to love the guy just because it seems like hes to large and awkward to ever wear a pair of skates.  But I guess there could be worse.  Moving on from Hal i'm honestly not sure what to think about Scuderi.  There is no question in my mind that without big Rob we wouldnt have touched Lord Stanley.  Honestly does anyone remember game 6 of the Stanley Cup?  You think Hal could have stopped three shots in the circle with his arms and legs?  On top of that he even realized not to put his glove over the puck to prevent a penalty shot.  Loyalty and devotion like that is real hard to find these days.  How many players are going to have the brains to remember the rule book in a situation like that and the agility to move his body right where the puck would go.  I love Goligoski as much as the next guy but i'm wondering if he has too much offense potential and not enough defensive potential.  At the same time he is one of the best prospects in our system and why would he play so efficiently in the parts he played this year if it wasnt signs of good play to come.  So really I see the loss of Scuderi being cancelled out by Goligoski.  Its that 6th defensman that i'm worried about.  We have as many players trying to grab the 6th spot as the Bengals do players in jail.  Ben Lovejoy?  I think he deffinitly could but that is a huge position to play.  The next option is Phillipe Boucher.  Unless i've had a mental breakdown I don't remember him being in the playoffs besides the 7th man and I don't remember seeing him on a free agency lists.  So for the time being he could equally qualify for the spot.  The 3rd option is Simon Despres.  I'm just gonna throw him out right now.  He isn't ready, he will be in a few years, but he would fare about as well as Ian Snells Pirates career did if he went into the NHL now.  The last option isssssssssssss Nate Guenin!  Ah that was more of a punchline if anything.  I truly don't know why the hell we signed him besides for insurance.  Is he ever supposed to get past average player?  Doubtful.  So for now I personally throw in Ben Lovejoy.  The only thing that bothers me is having two rookies play defense for us next year.  I guess could he do much worse then Hal Gill?  We'll see.