On January 1, 2011, it will be exactly three years from the first ever Winter Classic in 2008 where the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 in a shootout. It seems like yesterday when Sidney Crosby scored that famous game winning goal in the shootout. Three years may not seem like a long time, but the Penguins roster has changed dramatically since then. Only 8 of the 23 players remain on the Penguins currently. That includes players that were injured in 2008 as well as right now. Let's take a look at the 2008 Winter Classic roster:


D Darryl Sydor

C Jordan Staal

LW Ryan Malone

C Erik Christensen

RW Petr Sykora

LW Adam Hall

D Ryan Whitney

RW Colby Armstrong

RW Georges Laraque

G Dany Sabourin

G Ty Conklin

LW Jarkko Ruutu

C Jeff Taffe

D Brooks Orpik

RW Tyler Kennedy

D Sergei Gonchar

D Kris Letang

LW Evgeni Malkin

C Sidney Crosby

G Marc-Andre Fleury (Injured)

C Max Talbot (Injured)

2011 Tentative Roster:

LW Chris Kunitz

C Mike Rupp

RW Chris Conner

LW Matt Cooke

C Max Talbot

RW Craig Adams

RW Eric Godard

G Marc-Andre Fleury

D Brooks Orpik

RW Arron Asham

LW Tyler Kennedy

D Kris Letang

C Evgeni Malkin

C Sidney Crosby

C Jordan Staal (Injured)
C Mike Comrie (Injured)
The eight players that were on that 2008 roster were Sidney Crosby, Jordan Staal, Evgeni Malkin, Marc-Andre Fleury, Kris Letang, Brooks Orpik, Max Talbot, and Tyler Kennedy. At least seven of them will likely play in the 2011 Winter Classic. Staal is battling a hand injury and could miss the game, but he has not ruled it out just yet.
Where Are They Now? A Look at the 2008 former Penguins who participated in the Winter Classic:
Rob Scuderi: Signed a four year deal with the Los Angeles Kings in 2009.
Darryl Sydor: Retired
Ryan Malone: In the summer of 2008, he signed a seven year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Erik Christensen: Playing for the New York Rangers after they claimed him on waivers.
Petr Sykora: Playing for the Dynamo Minsk in the KHL.
Adam Hall: Currently playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Ryan Whitney: Currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers after he was traded there from Anaheim.
Colby Armstrong: Signed a three year deal this summer with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Georges Laraque: Retired
Dany Sabourin: Currently playing for the Hershey Bears in the AHL.
Ty Conklin: Currently playing for the St. Louis Blues.
Jarkko Ruutu: Currently playing for the Ottawa Senators.
Jeff Taffe: Currently playing for the Rockford Icehogs in the AHL.
Sergei Gonchar: Left the Penguins this summer to sign a three year contract with the Ottawa Senators.
Mark Eaton: Left the Penguins this summer to sign a two year contract with the New York Islanders.
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