Kris Letang

Since reaching the Stanley Cup Finals in 2008, the Pittsburgh Penguins have met the beginning of every season with heightened expectations.

With some of the game's brightest stars, an award-winning coach and an ownership group which spends to the salary cap ceiling every year, those expectations aren't misplaced.

All eyes may be on Sidney Crosby's path to recovery as he continues to move forward in conquering concussion symptoms, but according to coach Dan Bylsma another injured Penguin will make it back on the ice this weekend.

Defenseman Brooks Orpik has missed a month of games after breaking a finger on his right hand while blocking a shot back in February and will be in the lineup against the Florida Panthers on Sunday.

The aftermath of the NHL trade deadline has been followed by the analysis of the biggest winners and losers of the deadline.

What about the players?

Some star players have struggled this season and need some help. Unfortunately, many of them didn't get what they needed this deadline.

Here are eight stars that didn't get what they need.

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Looking at the Penguin's current injury roster, a lot of people may be thinking that they are down and out.

Although the Pens are definitely a different team without its core of stars, it's no reason to write them off so easily. The acquisition of veteran forward Alexei Kovalev and power forward James Neal could catapult the Penguins' offense into something to behold again.  

This past weekend presented us with perhaps the strangest weekend so far in the Pittsburgh Penguins 20010-11 campaign. While the Penguins showed a toughness many people questioned they possessed, the key for a strong finish is simply to ignore what happened from a playing perspective and get ready for what may be a Crosby-less playoff chase.

The NHL should take note of what is brewing in western Pennsylvania because the Pittsburgh Penguins are finding their steam without the help of superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, a seemingly nightmarish situation for a team that depends highly on their skill centers.

Technically the halfway point of the season is already over, as the Pittsburgh Penguins have already played 50 of their 82 games. Right now the Penguins sit in second place in their division and our in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The Pens entered the All-Star break 31-15-4 record.

The Penguins came into the season with high expectations. They opened up their brand new arena and played and hosted the 2010 Winter Classic.

It's hard to believe that this NHL season is nearing the mid-way point. The 58th NHL All-Star Game is taking place a month from now in Raleigh, N.C. on Jan. 30. The voting polls have been open for a month and a half, but there's only five days left before voting closes! The NHL implemented a new "fantasy-draft" style of voting, where fans can select three forwards, two defensemen and one goalie from either conference to appear in the All-Star Game. Here's a list of the players that are most deserving of your all-star votes.

Average is the perfect word to describe the Pittsburgh Penguins first 20 games of the 2010-11 NHL season.

Their strong penalty kill and weak power play combine to make a very average special teams. Their 10-8-2 record could be called average, considering the Penguins great success in recent years. That record evens out to a .550 points percentage, another average stat.

Superstar Evgeni Malkin? He's been average.

I have written many articles this season ranking the best young players in the game today. 

Many Web sites and pundits showcase prospects for the draft.  On the other end of the spectrum, established stars get the NHL headlines.  However, there is not enough publicity for the emerging stars of tomorrow.