The Penguins will never finish near the bottom of the NHL in the foreseeable future, not as long as they have Jaromir Jagr, so they won't be drafting any immediate difference-makers anytime soon. The Penguins don't have the money to spend on big-name free agents.
Given all that, the Penguins will never make a sudden leap to the top of the pro hockey mountain. If they're to win a third Stanley Cup, they must skate baby steps all the way there.
Here are some strides they can make this season:
Make Jagr's linemates work with him, not for him. Jan Hrdina's get-Jagr-the-puck-at-all-costs mentality last season was silly. If Jagr had been standing in the crowd, Hrdina would have tried to pass the biscuit through the boards. Jagr should get the puck as much as possible, but only if he's open. If promising young center Milan Kraft skates with Jagr and uses Hrdina's approach, Kraft will retard his own development. Jagr's linemates should participate as peers, not lackeys. Coach Ivan Hlinka should put Kraft and Martin Straka with Jagr and tell each to function as an equal. Jagr would still easily win the scoring title, and Kraft and Straka would achieve better numbers.
Speaking of Kraft, ship him to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton if he's not ready to play on the first or second line. Kraft's skills are made for such a spot, whether it's in the NHL or in the American Hockey League, and they won't develop if he's put on a checking line in Pittsburgh. The Penguins have hurt Aleksey Morozov by playing him on the third line so much.
Speaking of Morozov, ship him to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton if he's not ready to play on one of the top two lines. And have somebody show him the weight room when he gets there.
Sign Jean-Sebastien Aubin and establish him as the No. 1 goaltender. OK, so maybe Aubin doesn't have that much NHL experience. But Aubin looked terrific last season, and he's pretty much the last man standing among the young goalies the Penguins have had recently. Craig Hillier, the team's first-round pick in 1996, has been a washout. Patrick Lalime is gone. Ditto Peter Skudra. Aubin has a lot of potential and even more cool. Lose him and you're patch-working with the Garth Snows of the world until 1999 third-round choice Sebastien Caron is ready -- if ever. Aubin is the Penguins' best hope in goal. And their only hope.
Find another solid leader. Jagr leads primarily by example in his role as the Penguins' captain, stirring in strong words only occasionally. Jagr's captaincy is similar to Mario Lemieux's. But Lemieux had Ron Francis to help. Francis filled the more traditional captain's role in terms of locker-room speeches and dealing with the players and coaches. Jagr needs someone to be his Francis. It would make for a stronger team personality. Problem is, you can't pick leaders. Somebody has to emerge.
Find the right mix of veteran and young defensemen. The Penguins have more depth on defense than anywhere else. Seven blue liners are back -- eight if you count swingman Ian Moran -- and you've got kids like Andrew Ference and Josef Melichar knocking on the door. If Hlinka is serious about the Penguins stepping up their physical play, they should keep Ference and use him as one of their top six. Ference has a much better long-term upside than Moran, Hans Jonsson or John Slaney. Melichar might be better off playing a lot in the minors. As for perennial promising youngster Sven Butenschon, he's almost out of opportunities.
Shoot the puck. The siren song of the Civic Arena faithful, it's never been more applicable than now. Last season saw the Penguins work the perimeter like they were looking to shoot three-pointers. Offensive talent always underachieves when it doesn't shoot. Perhaps the addition of new assistant coach Joey Mullen will help. Mullen knows how to score, and he knows how to teach. Then again, assistant coach Rick Kehoe knows how to score and teach, but only a select few have bothered to absorb and utilize Kehoe's instructions in his decade-plus on Penguins practice ice.
It may be unfair to ask Jagr to contribute any more offensively, but he could do better on the power play. He potted just 10 man-advantage goals last season as the Penguins ranked 20th in power-play efficiency.
Kraft and Morozov must produce. As noted, the Penguins can't go out and buy scorers. They have to develop scorers. Kraft and Morozov are two kids who can grow into red-light district residents. Kraft, the Penguins' No. 1 draft choice in 1998, is only 20. He shouldn't be rushed. Morozov is 23, hardly over the hill, but what is he waiting for? Penguins fans have waited for Morozov's ship to come in longer than New Yorkers have been waiting for the Titanic to dock. Morozov, the Penguins' top pick in 1995, has all the tools.
Alexei Kovalev has to score more. You know what? I bet he will. I bet this is the year he nets at least 35.
The owner needs to come out of retirement. Maybe he will. Lemieux will skate in a Penguins alumni game late in the season, no doubt as a tuneup before playing in the playoffs. Start the rumor now.
Mark Madden hosts a sports talk show from 4 to 8 p.m. weekdays on ESPN Radio 1250.
Madden: Some baby steps by Penguins could lead to run 
