I don't want to get into a situation like 2002 when we picked the team so early and then some players got hot later and we got criticized,

It's always a tough situation when a great player has to retire. He's meant so much to not only the National Hockey League, but the city of Pittsburgh and that franchise. You don't replace players like Mario Lemieux. He's a great hockey player and a good person. The game will miss him.

It's nice to see that line going. It takes a lot of pressure off the whole team when you have a line that can be that strong.

We've talked about this for it seems like months. When the team plays disciplined, plays smart and plays the way that they need to play to be successful, we have some success.

If Wayne Gretzky can come to the rink early,'' said Melrose,

I don't want to get in a situation where he is 90 percent and gets re-injured and is out for another week. . . . We won't take that risk.