Lemieux at Center; Why Not?

Tuesday, September 06, 2005
By Dave Molinari, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Penguins might fill their need for a top-line center with one of the finest players ever to man the position.

And it wouldn't add a dollar to their payroll.

Mario Lemieux, who has worked extensively on left wing in recent years and was widely expected to play there in 2005-06, said he is "absolutely" willing to move back to the middle.

"Depending on how we start the season, I can play center or wing," Lemieux said. "It doesn't matter to me."

Coach Eddie Olczyk acknowledged that he has discussed the situation with Lemieux -- and that such a switch is possible -- but said it is just one of the options available.

"We can go in a lot of different directions," Olczyk said. "A lot of stuff can work itself out."

At least for the moment, Olczyk said, he plans to have Lemieux on the left side when training camp opens Sept. 13. Ryan Malone, prominently mentioned as a candidate to play center on one of the top two lines, also is penciled in on the wing for the start of camp, Olczyk said.

Those plans could be altered at any time, of course; one of the primary purposes of the preseason is to allow coaches to experiment with personnel.

That will be particularly true this year because of the rampant roster turnover around the league in the wake of the lockout that wiped out the 2004-05 season.

Even if Lemieux shifts to center, it seems likely that his job description will be altered to spare him some of the rigors that go along with the position.

"Just because he's in the middle doesn't mean he'll be doing all the work [that goes with being] a center in the league," Olczyk said.

While the Penguins' forward-line configurations have yet to be set, rookie Sidney Crosby is expected to center one of the top two lines.

The Penguins had hoped to fill the other spot with an elite veteran like Peter Forsberg or Mike Modano, but failed to lure one here during the early days of free agency last month.

So while Lemieux insists he is "not at all" concerned about the Penguins' situation at center, the other spot in the middle on the first or second line remains vacant, with no guarantee it will be filled satisfactorily in the near future.

There is no shortage of candidates to play there because just about everyone on the Penguins' depth chart who has spent any time at center -- from Kris Beech to Rico Fata, Shane Endicott to Matt Hussey -- has been floated as a possibility.

The early favorite among management, however, appears to be Lasse Pirjeta, a late-season addition in 2004.

Pirjeta was acquired from Columbus for Brian Holzinger in what appeared to be an exchange of low-impact forwards, but Pirjeta thrived during his short time with the Penguins.

After putting up just two goals and eight assists in 57 games with the Blue Jackets, Pirjeta had six goals and six assists in 13 games with the Penguins. Not only were his numbers good, but he was reliable defensively and proved capable of playing on the wing or at center.

"He was, and is, a very highly skilled guy," Olczyk said. "He sees the ice well, competes hard, has good skills and is deceptive in his skating ability. [Using Pirjeta at center on one of the top two lines] is one of our options, and it could be our best option."

Pirjeta, 31, reinforced his credentials with a productive showing (16 goals and 20 assists in 45 games) for HIFK Helsinki in Finland during the lockout. His size -- 6 foot 4, 225 pounds -- make him an attractive prospect for a checking line, but the Penguins feel he has more offensive potential than some realize.

"I think Lasse's going to surprise a lot of people," Lemieux said.

"He didn't come [to North America] until a couple of years ago and showed last year that he has some offensive skill.

"He's got size and likes to go to the net, so that's a big asset. Especially on our team, with the wingers we have. I think he might surprise a lot of people."

And if Pirjeta doesn't -- not in a good way, at least -- the Penguins have other possibilities. Including a guy who's been in the Hall of Fame for nearly a decade.

(Dave Molinari can be reached at 412-263-1144.)