Sergei Gonchar, written off early last season as a $25 million signing failure by former GM Craig Patrick, was the second-leading scorer among NHL defensemen and a key to one of the league’s best power plays.

Crosby? All he did at 19 was the become the youngest scoring champion in any major American pro sports league with 120 points and, given the Penguins’ turnaround, possibly the league’s MVP.

“I think there’s no doubt that we can be proud of the way we prepared for this season and really came together,” Crosby said. “The playoffs obviously were tough but maybe it’s something that needed to happen for us to learn.”

Almost forgotten amid the season-long stream of news is that Lemieux, exasperated after years of failing to gain an arena deal, was within days of selling the team to Canadian businessman Jim Balsillie. The deal fell apart in December only when Balsillie balked at a league-mandated provision he not move the franchise under almost any circumstance.

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And something to look for next fall, besides Shero possibly adding another top-line forward and a defenseman? (The Penguins have money to spend under the salary cap.)

How about making it Crosby, with a C? Look for him to become one of the league’s youngest captains at age 20. Another note to ponder for 2007-08: Lemieux, though with an older cast surrounding him than Crosby does, won the Stanley Cup in only his second trip to the postseason.

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