SDWC: Could you take a moment to explain exactly what goes on in a "morning skate"? It is a formal practice with drills, game planning, structure, or just some time for the guys to lace 'em up and skate around for an hour?

Shelly Anderson: Sure. Game-day morning skates are less formal and off-day practices, but for most teams they do include instruction and oversight from the head coach and contain a fairly routine set of drills, such as line rushes. They last about a half hour. They're similar to the morning shoot-around in basketball. The lore goes that in hockey morning skates were a way to make sure the players didn't, uh, overextend themselves the night before a game. Now, it's more of a chance to study a little video, warm up the muscles, work on some things individually after the main part of the skate and add structure to a game day.

Bones: Will Jagr play with Crosby or Malkin?

Shelly Anderson: In what charity golf tournament?

beerman0303: I know this would be pure speculation, or even a random guess, but IF Therrian would be replaced would it be from inside the organization or outside? Any possible names?

Shelly Anderson: I would be lying if I had any idea what general manager Ray Shero would do if he decided to replace coach MIchel Therrien, so there are only guesses. As far as an internal interim, perhaps assistants Andre Savard or Mike Yeo, if they weren't part of the firing. There's always Eddie Johnston. I can't ever see it being Mario Lemieux. Shero might have contacts outside the organization he would consider on a permanent basis. There are a lot of former Penguins players who are behind the bench, including Ron Francis, Ulf Samuelsson, Randy Cunneyworth and others. Whether they would warrant consideration or have an interest, though, is conjecture.

Fan_Since_The_70s: I have been watching hockey since before Jordan Staal was even born. Can someone please tell me what Shero sees in Staal to offer him a $16M contract other than possible potential?

Shelly Anderson: Jordan Staal, who last week got a four-year, $16 million extension that begins next season, got a reasonable deal if you look at comparibles and consider that, at 20, he does have huge potential. He's big, strong, is better versed than many older players at playing both ends and has at least some scoring touch. His game has to get better, but there's no reason to think it won't. He'll start out next season making the same that winger Miroslav Satan is making this season, $3.5 million. If that's what Satan brings on the open market, don't you think Staal is worth that either as a key member of the team's future or as a strong trade offering?

Martin: Type here Hi Shelly, Any idea why Wallace was send down to WB/S today? I thought he was a good 4th liner.

Shelly Anderson: Tim Wallace has done pretty well with the Penguins and has shown more grit than might have been expected -- witness his fight against Boston's Milan Lucic -- but there seems to be a neverending pipeline between the parent club and Wilkes-Barre. Winger Pascal Dupuis made it through about half of today's practice. There is a chance he will play tomorrow. And it would be easy enough to get someone from Wilkes-Barre to Philadelphia if needed.

beerman0303: I'm gonna put you on the spot, will the Pens make the playoffs this year? What will spur the turn around or will they just squeak in?

Shelly Anderson: Predictions aren't on my list of favorite things, but just given the talent on this team -- starting with the top two scorers in the league as of this moment -- it would seem they have a good shot at turning things around enough to at least make the playoffs. It would seem Boston would be very difficult to catch, and they will have to make up more than 10 points to snag a top-four seed, but the Penguins certainly could get into the postseason and see what they can do from there.

yzguy431: Good afternoon -- do you foresee a major change? Coaching, or otherwise?

Shelly Anderson: Since it didn't happen now with a couple days between games, I would say it depends greatly on what happens in upcoming games. Only general manager Ray Shero and co-owner Mario Lemieux would know for sure, and they aren't saying -- although both watched practice pretty closely today.

yzguy431: Hi, are the problems bigger than a slump?

Shelly Anderson: From what I can gather, the players don't know the answer to that, so it's difficult for media members to know. The obvious answer is, we'll find out if they climb out of the slump and everything is OK. There don't seem to be personality issues or sniping. Of course, talent plays a part. They don't have as much of it as they had during their playoff run.

Bones: Is it time to give up the dream that Pesonen will get a legit shot on a scoring line this year?

Shelly Anderson: Finnish winger Janne Pesonen continues to play well in Wilkes-Barre -- he had four points in his most recent game -- but has gotten limited ice time on lower lines in his handful of games with the Penguins. Coach Michel Therrien today explained that he isn't a big fan of putting call-ups on a line with, say, Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin because those two tend to draw very good defensive pairings.

beerman0303: Is Fluery 100% healthy. He has not looked sharp to me since his return from injury. How would you rate his play?

Shelly Anderson: There's no reason to think goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury isn't healthy. It's more likely that his timing and decision-making haven't gotten back to normal since he returned from a groin injury. It might also be that he is caught up in the slump like everyone else and is pressing a bit. He has been caught out of position some, something he had improved on a lot the past couple seasons.

Natalia: I am a bit surprised Alex Goligoski has been the more consistent of all Penguins D to be a healthy scratch. I know there has to be an odd man out, but does it look like he may be back soon? He seems too good to be in the AHL and too good for the bench. Would he be a likely canadate for a trade?

Shelly Anderson: At this point, there are very few players who would be "untouchable" if an attractive trade offer came in, but there is no evidence Alex Goligoski is being shopped. Someone has to sit when there are seven or eight healthy defensemen. With Ryan Whitney and Kris Letang available to work the points on the power play, it could come down to the rookie taking his turn sitting out.

Fan_Since_The_70s: Why has our defense become so 'soft'? Anyone and everyone is crashing the net on us. Even Bob Errey commented on it twice in the Colorado game and he NEVER says anything negative even if it is obvious.

Shelly Anderson: Seeing it and explaining why are two different things. The Penguins lately have not done a great job of defending the front of their net. Whether that's a lack of willingness or a lapse in focus, it's hard to say.

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