DUBAS SAYS TEAM-BUILDING WILL GO ON AS SEASON BEGINS

Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas held his annual season-opening media appearance yesterday and hit on a variety of topics, including the way the Metro Division stacks up, the contract talks with Sidney Crosby, his ongoing desire to stock the Penguins with prospects for the future, and the goaltending competition between hot prospects Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist, which he said was actually decided by Murashov’s strong performance in the AHL playoffs last spring.

Dubas says the Penguins making it into the playoffs last season proved that they’re on the right track, but their first-round exit showed they’re not one of the elite teams yet.

With Sidney Crosby entering the final year of his contract, Dubas said he’s comfortable with the pace of the negotiations on a new deal, and with Crosby stepping out of the talks and letting his agent, Pat Brisson, handle it.

Dubas also remarked on the Penguins’ Big Three, Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang, entering their 21^st season together, a record for any team sport. He said their effect on their teammates is about much more than hockey.