Crosby hopes Kessel will fly under the radar in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby understands the pressure Phil Kessel was under as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Kessel was the most scrutinized player during his final season with the Maple Leafs after posting just 25 goals with the club. However, with a new club, the 27-year-old should be removed from the spotlight.

"Coming from Toronto, everyone knows about his situation there,” Crosby told Triblive.com's Jason Mackey. "There was a lot of pressure on him.

"Hopefully in Pittsburgh, he doesn't have to deal with as much of that pressure. He can just be someone else on the team. Definitely with the way he can skate and shoot, he's going to help us."

Next to Kessel, the Penguins added further depth upfront by bringing in forwards Nick Bonino, Eric Fehr, and Matt Cullen - moves that make the team a contender in the East.

"Regardless of the moves, there are expectations for us to win,” said Crosby. “That being said, you get excited when you see some of the players we've added."