Penguins at a glance
	Camp schedule: Sept. 7-14: ICEOPLEX at Southpointe (Cannonsburg, Pa.) Sept. 15-22: First Union Arena (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) Sept. 23: ICEOPLEX at Southpointe Coach: Ivan Hlinka (42-28-9-3) General manager: Craig Patrick (13th season)

So who needs the best player in the world on its team? The Penguins certainly did, but they cut Jaromir Jagr loose for three cheap prospects because the financial stability of the franchise depended on it.

What sort of a reason is that?

Even if you believe all the hoo-ha about bankruptcy, why does Mario Lemieux want to play with a team that has no chance to be as good as it was last season? For the greater glory of ticket sales, of course.

It's all about the team: Now that Jagr's gone, how can they replace him? Face it, they can't. But the team-oriented approach the Penguins will employ this season might help. Still, Jagr was involved in only half the goals scored by the Penguins last season. And this in a season in which adrenaline fueled a Mario miracle, and Alex Kovalev, Martin Straka and Robert Lang all scored better than ever before. Don't expect any offensive miracles in Pittsburgh this time around … even if training camp tryout Stephane Richer is given a real chance.

Is Alex this great?: With a two-year, $8.8 million arbitration award in his hands, can Alexei Kovalev continue to develop into the superstar many believe he can become? He was tied with Straka for fourth in the league in point production last season, but Kovalev also became a much more significant presence in other ways on the ice. Now he has to become a leader.

Helloooo Hlinka: Lemieux might be everything from legend to owner to unofficial coach, but head coach Ivan Hlinka is still around. The question is, has he learned how to communicate with his players yet? There are those who say Jagr was a big part of that public problem. That the club was stunned at how often he would be at odds with his coaching Czech countryman. Maybe his absence will help Ivan open up.

Penguins 2001-02 preseason schedule
Date	Opponent	Time
Sat., Sept. 15	vs. Boston at First Union Arena, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.	Canceled
Sun., Sept. 16	vs. New Jersey at First Union Arena, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.	Canceled
Tue., Sept. 18	at Atlanta	7:30 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 21	at Toronto	7:30 p.m.
Sat. Sept. 22	at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) at First Union Arena, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.	7:30 p.m.
Mon., Sept. 24	Atlanta	7:30 p.m.
Thu., Sept. 27	vs. New Jersey at Pepsi Arena, Albany, N.Y.	7 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 29	Columbus	7:30 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 30	at Columbus	5 p.m.