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Q: I know it's early, but could we be looking at the best Penguins roster ever? I see a very complete team, well-positioned to repeat.

Steve Weisenberg, Alamo, Calif.

MOLINARI: If one accepts the adage about strength down the middle being of paramount importance -- and there's not much reason to dispute it -- the Penguins certainly qualify as an exceptional group. Not only because they have the NHL's finest collection of centers, headlined by Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal, but because they have a nicely balanced defense and outstanding goaltender, Marc-Andre Fleury.

What this team doesn't have, however, and might never because of salary-cap constraints, is a major goal-scoring presence or two on the wings. (With apologies to those celebrated snipers, Mike Rupp and Pascal Dupuis, of course.) That is what separates it from the great Penguins teams of the early 1990s and in particular, the 1992-93 club, which was the best collection of talent in franchise history.

That team had Mario Lemieux and Ron Francis at center, Tom Barrasso in goal and a defense led by Larry Murphy and Ulf Samuelsson. It also had Kevin Stevens, Joe Mullen, Jaromir Jagr and Rick Tocchet on the wings. Those four accounted for 170 goals, an average of 42.5 per man. Barring a trade, the 2009-10 Penguins won't have one winger who comes close to scoring 42 goals, let alone four who do it.

But while these Penguins might not quite match up with the team from 1992-93, it can learn from it. Those Penguins were coming off Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992, won the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's top regular-season team and were an almost-overwhelming favorite to win a third consecutive title.

And lost to the New York Islanders in the second round.

The lesson there is obvious: Depth and balance and a track record of success do not guarantee success in the playoffs. The Penguins, as currently constituted, certainly look to be capable of repeating, especially if variables like injuries and matchups break their way next spring. But for them, or their fans, to assume they are assured of another trip to the Cup final simply because of how they look on paper or what they've achieved during the first third of the regular season would be sheer folly.

Q: I was a little disappointed to see Ben Lovejoy sent down to the AHL, even though it's good news that the defense corps is getting healthier. Lovejoy didn't burn up the league while he was here, but he played a good game in his end and seemed to have some offensive instincts, as well. I would have liked to see him get a little more power-play time over Mark Eaton and Martin Skoula. Does his recent performance and that of the other call-ups give Ray Shero more confidence if he feels it necessary to deal a defenseman closer to the trade deadline?

Doug McKinney, Bethel Park

MOLINARI: It might, but the other way to look at it is that Shero was reminded of how important it is to have capable replacements available when there are injuries on defense. The Penguins already have used 10 defensemen this season, so they have first-hand knowledge that it's not unheard-of for a team to lose three or four guys off its blue line at any one time. If that happens during the playoffs and a team doesn't have enough guys who can step in without a major drop-off in effectiveness, its season could be over in a hurry.

Of course, in the salary-cap era, teams have to cut some corners -- witness Shero's decision to invest his money in players other than goal-scoring wingers -- and take some gambles, and if it's not out of the question that at some point, the Penguins might decide that dealing a good defenseman is a sacrifice worth making to bolster another part of their lineup.

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