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Kessel 'excited' to join Penguins and two of hockey's 'best players'

Penguins coach Mike Johnston declined to offer his gut feeling for where exactly Phil Kessel will fit into his lineup, leaving the debate that begs “Crosby or Malkin?” to rage on to September.

He just knows his team got a whole lot quicker, and more prolific, with the addition of Kessel, whose blistering release (wrist or slap shot), speed and quickness will make him an elite sniper in the Penguins offense.

“One, it’s the speed that he plays with. It’s a fast game now and it’s dangerous if you can have speed in your lineup both in transition and on the attack,” said Johnston.