Stable Penguins hope cohesion will lead to success whenever NHL lockout ends

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Pittsburgh Penguins\' Sidney Crosby, right, skates in on a goalie during a hockey workout on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, at the IceoPlex in Canonsburg, Pa. Crosby knows the NHL season, if and when it starts, will be a sprint. That should favor teams like the Penguins, who endured little turnover in the long offseason. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Sidney Crosby expects the NHL season — whenever it begins — to resemble a sprint. The Penguins hope they resemble Usain Bolt.

While labour talks inched toward a resolution on Thursday amid talks of a 48-game regular season, Crosby and a handful of teammates worked out hoping they’ll be able to get back to work in the near future.

The Penguins will return the core of the team that lost to Philadelphia in the opening round of last year’s Stanley Cup playoffs and did little to overhaul the roster outside of trading centre Jordan Staal.

Standing pat might not be a bad thing. While revamped clubs will need time to learn how to play together, that shouldn’t be an issue in Pittsburgh with Crosby healthy and reigning MVP Evgeni Malkin once again leading the way.

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Follow Will Graves at www.twitter.com/WillGravesAP

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