from Michael Grange of Sportsnet,

... Lemieux has never been a big talker and he chose to remain silent at the news conference Friday announcing the Penguins’ decision to fire long-time general manager Ray Shero.

But you could see Lemieux moving the strings behind Penguins president and chief executive officer David Morehouse, who made the announcement, mouthing words right from the top: Good isn’t good enough.

“This is a team that has had a level of success,” said Moreway. “What we’re trying to do is get from good to great. We’re in the top quartile of the league in everything we do. A lot of teams would like to be where we are. However, we do have high expectations.”

In the past, Lemieux had nothing to lose when he rode to the rescue, the situations in Pittsburgh were so dire simply surviving them was a triumph. This time the stakes are higher, failing means falling a long way down.

That they could swing the axe on an executive like Shero — it’s presumed head coach Dan Bylsma will be fired by his replacement, which at least keeps Crosby one step removed from the kill floor — proves how thin the edge is between success in the NHL and being bloodied.

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