springer: What are your thought about Max being with the Penguins long term?

Shelly Anderson: Max Talbot, who is normally a center but recently has been playing left wing on Sidney Crosby's line, is an energy guy who can kill penalties and has scored some big goals. He won't ever be a star along the lines of Crosby and fellow centers Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal, but there's certainly room on the roster for Talbot. It seems likely that his long-term role would be fourth-line center behind the three others and he's a heck of a fourth-liner in the way that Staal is a heck of a third-liner.

ajt123: Wondering why they didnt use Sydor more, seems to me he still had a little something left to contribute, but was just never used. Thoughts?

Shelly Anderson: It's hard to say why the Penguins didn't go more with Darryl Sydor, the veteran defenseman who yesterday was traded to Dallas for another veteran defenseman, Phillippe Boucher. Sydor still has speed and smarts and is fine as a second-unit point man on the power play. He had a slow start last season after signing a two-year deal with the Penguins as a free agent that summer. Perhaps coach Michel Therrien never quite trusted Sydor to play well consistently.

ajt123: Any scoop on Fluery's injury?

Shelly Anderson: None yet, beyond the fact that that Marc-Andre Fleury was hurt late in Saturday's game, he missed practice today and coach Michel Therrien described his No. 1 goaltender as "day to day." The Penguins are following a directive that began after this start of this season that teams no longer have to divulge any injury information beyond the fact that a player is hurt and his status for upcoming games. So far, when a player has been listed as day-to-day, it has, in fact, been something short-term. Backup Dany Sabourin probably was due for a start soon anyway, so it's possible the team won't be handcuffed by Fleury's problem.

Lchip7: Hi Shelly, did Sydor know about the trade during Saturday's game? He made a comment during the telecast in third period that immediately struck me as odd. He said something to the effect of "those guys" when referring to his Pens teammates.

Shelly Anderson: It's highly possible Darryl Sydor knew something was in the works at least. He spent the game in the press box sitting next to injured defenseman Ryan Whitney but was quiet. I doubt, though, that you can read anything into his wording during a TV interview.

ajt123: If you had to pick one position to upgrade, what would it be, and who would you choose?

Shelly Anderson: The team has won six games in a row, so it's hardly struggling at any position, but the obvious spot would be a winger for Sidney Crosby. And the obvious and ideal choice would be Marian Hossa, but we already know he decided on Detroit instead.

ajt123: I'm not crazy about the new secrecy of injuries this year. How did it come about, and if you where to say Fleury in a cast without the team officially reporting the injury, would/could you report the story without repercussions?

Shelly Anderson: NHL general managers opted for the new policy. It replaces one in which teams only had to divulge whether a player's injury was on his upper or lower body. Teams aren't required to follow the policy -- some are not -- but the Penguins have chosen to. We have, in fact, reported the nature of injuries without help of the Penguins -- Hal Gill's hand, Rob Scuderi's foot, Sidney Crosby's hip. That's our job.

pensootfan: Was there ever any talk about Hartnell getting fined for that hit on Dany during the shootout last Thursday?

Shelly Anderson: Not that I heard. It was hard to tell the amount of intent by Scott Hartnell after his shootout attempt was stopped, and it looked like he said something to the goaltender, but that's as far it it went apparently.

the_mighty_guins: So is Boucher here until the end of the season or is he a piece for a larger trade to be made at a later date?

Shelly Anderson: It's way to early to answer that. We don't know exactly when Ryan Whitney and Sergei Gonchar are coming back from surgery, or how well newly acquired Phillippe Boucher or the other defensemen will play or whether there will be other injuries or concerns. Boucher will be a free agent after this season. I trust general manager Ray Shero to evaluate the defensemen and proceed accordingly, and it seems to me that the trade was as much about getting Darryl Sydor into a better situation as it was about setting up any future move with Boucher.

ajt123: What is our best 20-game start ever?

Shelly Anderson: I'm not sure about 20 games, but I do know the 1995-96 team, which made the conference final, were 9-3-3 through 15 games, and this season's team, at 11-4-2 through 17 games, is doing well for a club that, in general, seem to start better than they finish most seasons.

ajt123: I think I've seen you way up in the press area for games. Sure seems high up. Do you have TV's in there? Have you heard any plans to get you guys a little closer in the new arena?

Shelly Anderson: The press box at Mellon Arena was an addition from the original setup, which had the press box in what are now the blue premium seats, so the only place they had to add on was up, up, up. We do have TVs to watch replays. We've been promised that in the new arena, the press box will at least be directly accessible by elevator instead of two floors higher than the elevators go now. But at least we're at center ice while we're in the Igloo.

ajt123: See Mario much this year? I have only seen him a couple of times it seems (in his box during games) ...

Shelly Anderson: Yes, Hall of Fame center and team co-owner Mario Lemieux is around. I don't know exactly how many games he attends. He was in Sweden with the team and has been at at least some home games and occasionally at practice. Don't worry. He's not losing interest.

pensootfan: It seems to me as if this trade is really a win/win at this point. Darryl wanted to play more than he was here and it seem like Boucher is happy with the trade. Other than an even trade we did get another right hand shooter. How much do you think that played into the decision and do you think Boucher will get more icetime as a result?

Shelly Anderson: If Sydor and Boucher play regularly and are effective, it's a good trade. If Boucher isn't used any more than Sydor was but the Penguins seem to be OK on defense, there was nothing lost since they essentially have identical contracts. Although Ray Shero made the trade -- and surely he was in contact with the coaching staff -- it will be up to coach Michel Therrien as to how and how much Boucher is used. We'll get a first hint of that tomorrow against Minnesota.

Shelly Anderson: Thanks, folks. Chat with you next week.