Don't look now, Pittsburgh Penguins fans, but eight games into the 2006-07 season, your team is currently sitting atop the Atlantic Division and third overall in the Eastern Conference.

Now I know it's far too early to suggest the Pens can keep up this pace. This club still needs a lot of work defensively and their lack of skilled depth on the blueline and on their checking lines will probably drag them down in the standings as the season progresses.

But after last season's horrific start that sunk any hopes of getting with sniffing distance of the 2006 playoffs, this year's holds a lot more promise.

At best, the Pens could be in a fight for a playoff berth down the stretch. At worse, they may fall out of the race by January, but this stronger than expected start to the 2006-07 season gives Penguins fans a glimpse into a promising future.

In goal, Marc-Andre Fleury has shaken off a poor pre-season to post up a respectable 2.66 GAA, an eye-popping .923 SP and a shutout in 8 games with a 5-3 won-loss record. What makes this even more notable is he's faced the most shots of any goalie in the league thus far.

On the blueline, the Penguins are still missing the physical presence of Brooks Orpik (still sidelined with a broken bone in his right hand), but promising d-man Ryan Whitney (whose 38 point rookie season was overshadowed by Sidney Crosby's performance) is off to a strong sophomore season by averaging a point per game thus far. Veteran Sergei Gonchar appears off to a better start that last season, giving the Penguins blueline some lethal offensive punch.

Up front, Crosby continues to weave his magic, leading the club in points with 12, only three behind overall leader Marian Hossa.

But it's the play of two rookie Penguins, Evgeny Malkin and Jordan Staal, that is also garnering attention.

Staal already has four goals in 8 games, making it harder for management to send him back to the minors. If this kid is ready to play, and the fact he looks comfortable on the second line thus far seems to prove he does, then the Pens should keep him and worry about re-signing him in three years time. A lot can happen in three years, but Staal is ready now. Sending him back to Junior this season just to stretch out his contract by another year is not gonna be a good sell with the fans.

As for Malkin, he's doing everything expected of him since returning to action after dislocating his shoulder in pre-season. In fact, he's showing no effects of that injury and appears to get stronger in every game, potting 4 goals and 6 points in his first six games.

Anyone buying into that stupid, baseless rumor that he wants out of Pittsburgh because he doesn't want to be overshadowed by Crosby need only watch his reaction after scoring a highlight reel goal on Wednesday against the Devils.

After scoring that goal he embraced linemate Crosby in a huge bear hug. Yeah, lotsa dissatisfaction was evident in that. Hoo, boy, Malkin, try to mask your disappointment in having Crosby as a linemate and having to play in Pittsburgh better than that next time. Hey, maybe that's how Russians hide their disappointment, by looking like they're having the time of their lives.

It's obvious Malkin loves playing in Pittsburgh, and hooking up with Crosby could make these two the most lethal Penguins one-two punch since Mario and Jaromir were in their early-90s heyday.

The Penguins may come crashing back to earth at some point this season, but these aforementioned youngsters are pointing the way to a much brighter future, provided this club can sort out its financial situation over the next three years.