Bruce Bennett, Getty Images Erik Christensen, right, of Wilkes-Barre battles Ryan Caldwell of Bridgeport for the puck Oct. 23. Christensen, the No. 3 scorer in the American Hockey League, is expected to be promoted to the Penguins today. Click photo for larger image. Related Story: Penguins Notebook: Adding to power-play struggles

Watching his team lose 10 of its first 11 games has convinced Penguins general manager Craig Patrick that significant changes are needed.

Immediately.

Replacing Eddie Olczyk as coach isn't one of them, however.

Yesterday, Patrick was emphatic that, despite the Penguins' 1-5-5 start, Olczyk's job is not in danger, saying that firing his coach is "not a consideration."

At the same time, Patrick made it clear he feels "at this point, we have to adjust the mix of players."

While Patrick is believed to have spent considerable time of late in trade talks with other teams, his first move apparently will be a promotion: The Penguins are expected to recall defenseman Ryan Whitney and center Erik Christensen from their minor-league team in Wilkes-Barre today.

Both had strong performances during training camp -- factors like not having to clear waivers played a pivotal part in the decision to send them to the minors -- and have been key contributors to the Baby Penguins' 9-0 start.

Christensen is the No. 3 scorer in the American Hockey League, with nine goals and 10 assists in nine games, and Whitney is tied for seventh in the scoring race with five goals and nine assists. Neither has played in the NHL.

Because defenseman Dick Tarnstrom (knee) and left winger Andre Roy (orbital) have gone on injured reserve the past week, the Penguins can add Whitney and Christensen to their 23-man roster without removing anyone from it.

Christensen's skill level makes him a viable candidate for a job on one of the two top lines, while Whitney seems capable of assuming a prominent role on their blue line.

Adding Whitney won't necessarily be the only move the Penguins make to upgrade their defense corps in the near future. It has not, as a unit, performed to expectations, and no individual has distinguished himself in the first three-plus weeks of the season.

The defensemen have been, in general, slow to react and quick to grab. Some are struggling with the league's strict enforcement of obstruction-related penalties; others appear to simply be overmatched by the competition at this level.

Patrick said the Penguins' miserable start is "certainly not what any of us anticipated," and agreed that the team's whole at this point is less than the sum of its parts.

"I don't think a lot of our players have played up to our expectations, and I don't know the reason for that," he said. "Maybe it's the wrong mix [of personnel]. Maybe it's apprehension about the new rules. But I just don't see us moving our feet the way I expect us to."

That problem was evident in the third period Saturday at Mellon Arena, when the Penguins gave up four unanswered goals to Carolina in the final eight minutes of regulation as their 3-1 lead became a 5-3 defeat. That loss, to a team playing for the third time in four nights, eliminated any lingering doubt management might have about whether changes were in order.

Patrick shrugged off a suggestion that, because of the circumstances, the loss to Carolina was the most bitter of the season. "None of the losses are any fun," he said. But Olczyk said, "You would not be off the radar if you would suggest that one would be as tough as it gets."

The Hurricanes' comeback was the latest in a series of wicked blows to the Penguins' psyches. At this point, no one could blame them for expecting the worst in any situation, because that's what has been happening most of the time.

"It's all about confidence," Patrick said. "Right now, we're pretty fragile. We have to figure out how to be a more stable team."

Patrick, as always, selected his words carefully and spoke in measured tones, but those who work with him are keenly aware of how he feels about the Penguins' performance the first 11 games.

"He's certainly not a happy human, that's for sure," Olczyk said.

What has to be especially exasperating for management is that, in almost every game, the Penguins show what they can do when they execute their system the way it is designed. This is not like the 2003-04 team, which usually struggled to compete because of a lack of talent.

"When we do move our feet and are aggressive offensively and defensively, we're very good," Patrick said.

It is particularly important for players to keep their legs moving in today's game because of the letter-of-the-law enforcement of obstruction infractions.

In previous seasons, players could get away with using a quick hook or hold to prevent an opponent from gaining a territorial advantage. Try that now and -- as the Penguins have experienced so many times this month -- it's rewarded with a trip to the penalty box.

While every coach ultimately is responsible for how his players perform -- regardless of how sound or flawed his instruction might be -- Patrick said Olczyk is "doing a very good job," and that the Penguins "are not at that point" at which the coach will be held accountable for his team's play.

"Right now, we have to make some adjustments in our personnel, then see where we go from there," Patrick said.