Shero wants more

Ray Shero didn't save the Pittsburgh Penguins, but the team's executive vice president and general manager is doing everything he can to keep the defending Eastern Conference champions in the NHL's upper echelon.

The franchise's resurrection from near relocation in 2007 to its appearance in the Stanley Cup finals last spring left Shero speechless. But the championship climax was tough to endure as Pittsburgh fell to Detroit in six games. Shero, a former St. Lawrence University player and captain, struggled to watch the Red Wings raise the Cup in Hockey Town.

"The finality of everything was hard," said Shero in a phone interview earlier this month. "There were some great games, so many highs. The winter classic (in Buffalo on New Year's Day) and beating our rivals — the Philadelphia Flyers — in five (games) at home. But with the sound of the last buzzer, everything was gone."

The next time the final horn goes off, Shero hopes the Penguins are hoisting their third Stanley Cup trophy in team history.

Shero's blueprint for success showed originality on the surface, but the premise was simple. After being appointed as Pittsburgh's general manager in May 2006, he surrounded star forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin with complementary role players. Shero planned on competing for a title immediately.

The Penguins' point total spiked from 58 to 105 during the 2006-07 season. Pittsburgh clinched a spot in the postseason for the first time since 2001. Even Shero was amazed with the progress. Last year, the Penguins won the Atlantic Division and streaked through the Eastern Conference playoffs before falling in the finals.

"Realistically, what I wanted to do was challenge for a playoff spot and remain there," Shero said. "Once you get there, you want to always contend for a Stanley Cup. I don't want this to be a one-year thing."

Shero was at the center of Pittsburgh's vital offseason. He needed to make calculated moves to keep the once-floundering team afloat. The Penguins were close to erasing the stigma of being a bankrupt franchise to an organization of promise. Shero had less time to evaluate the roster, since Pittsburgh concluded its season in early June. Also, the draft and free agency period were rapidly approaching.

Shero decided to stick with his agenda. He locked up Malkin, rising defenseman Brooks Orpik and budding goaltender Marc Andre-Fleury to long-term contracts. He gave head coach Michel Therrien a three-year extension. The Penguins lost talented scorer Marian Hossa to Detroit, but Shero acquired serviceable wings Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko to fill the void. If it wasn't hurt by injuries this season, Pittsburgh would likely be near or atop the conference standings again.

Regardless, things are looking up in Pittsburgh. The Penguins inked a lengthy contract with CONSOL Energy for the naming rights to their new arena, which is scheduled to open for the 2010-11 season. Shero said the team has sold out more than 80 consecutive home games, and has a waiting list for season tickets. "A lot of the credit goes to different people," Shero said. "They kept the team here. We finally got things approved, a lot of positive things have happened, and the fans have been supportive. It's been a great story."

MARCHANT REACHES MILESTONE

Former Clarkson standout Todd Marchant suited up in his 1,000 NHL game last week against Vancouver.

Marchant, a native of Buffalo, is in his third season with the Anaheim Ducks. The speedy forward was drafted by the New York Rangers in 1993. He spent nine years in Edmonton and two seasons with Columbus before joining Anaheim.

Marchant hasn't contributed more than 20 goals in a season during his 16 years in the NHL.

"Players like me aren't winning individual awards," Marchant told the Edmonton Journal last week. "All I wanted to do was be on a team that won a Stanley Cup (Anaheim, 2007) and get to 1,000 games."

ICE CHIPS ...

Philadelphia Flyers defensemanRandy Jonesreturned to the team last week following a brief rehab stint with the club's American Hockey League team. A three-year blueliner at Clarkson, he missed 32 games for the Flyers this season after having right hip surgery on Oct. 15. ... Massena nativeZach Bogosianhas been practicing with Atlanta and could play for the Thrashers soon. Thrashers head coach John Anderson could insert the rookie defenseman into the lineup this week. Bogosian has been out since Oct. 28 with a broken left leg. ... The Washington Capitals are being cautious in the recuperation of captain and former Clarkson forwardChris Clark. Clark has been out four weeks with a fractured forearm and may not return to action until next month.