Sidney Crosby: Penguins need to 'get over that hump and be more of a playoff team'

Sidney Crosby is still adjusting to a summer of change for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“I knew, obviously, everyone wasn’t pleased with the way things happened,” the team's captain said after an informal workout Wednesday, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “At that point, you don’t know what’s going to happen and you know there are going to be changes, but to what extent, I didn't really even think about it."

After losing in the Eastern Conference Semifinal to the New York Rangers in seven games this past spring, the Penguins fired general manager Ray Shero and head coach Dan Bylsma, a regime under which the team won the Stanley Cup in 2009.

“I knew everyone was going to have to answer for it, so to speak," Crosby said." It’s just something you have to deal with when you don’t win, and the expectation is (high). It’s never a fun time."

The Penguins traded winger James Neal to the Nashville Predators for forward Patric Hornqvist and center Nick Spaling in late June. Defensemen Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik both signed with the Washington Capitals in free agency.

"I’m a guy who doesn't like change,” Crosby said. “It’s never easy. But, when I look back at different experiences I've had, sometimes change has ended up working out to be pretty good.”

The two-time Hart Trophy winner says the Penguins need to figure out how to become an elite team again.

"We definitely have to find a way to get over that hump and be more of a playoff team,” he said. “We did a really good job a couple of years ago of getting to the (2013) conference final, then didn't raise our game to that next level when we needed to, when teams get better and better with each round.”

[H/T Pro Hockey Talk]