Former Penguins Shining Like Stars

With the NHL regular season (along with the Penguins’ flickering playoff hopes) winding down like an old Timex watch, I confess I’m pretty much out of fresh ideas for articles.However, this morning as I was perusing Hockey Reference and checking in on former Penguins as I so often do, a light bulb turned on.

Scanning the Dallas Stars’ roster, I noticed that three ex-Pens seem to be thriving deep in the heart of Texas. Two, forward Mikael Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci, were acquired from San Jose on February 1 in a beat-the-deadline deal. A third, goaltender Casey DeSmith, was signed as a free agent this past summer at the Filene’s Basement rate of $1 million.

I’ll start my ramble with…