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Q: Several years ago, Wayne Gretzky had the honor of having his number retired across the league. Without sounding like too much of a homer, do you think this is an honor that Mario Lemieux deserves, as well? Obviously, Gretzky's point totals are much higher than Lemieux's, but I believe Mario's legacy and contribution to the sport should earn him the same distinction.

Ryan Wolf, Carnegie

MOLINARI: The thinking here is, and has been, that while Gretzky set scoring records that could last a long, long time, he didn't do anything to merit the NHL taking his number out of circulation for every franchise. Developing a productive on-ice partnership with Jari Kurri is all well and good, but Gretzky didn't do anything that had the impact of, say, Jackie Robinson breaking major-league baseball's color barrier. That's the kind of achievement that merits having one's number retired by an entire league, rather than by a single team.

Obviously, Lemieux had a profound impact on the game and is generally regarded as one of the finest players in hockey history. What's more, he's credited with saving the franchise here a couple of times, most recently when he put together a group of investors that took possession of it when it came out of bankruptcy.

The things Lemieux did for the Penguins are more than enough reason for this franchise to take his number out of circulation, as it did long ago, but really, why shouldn't a Phoenix Coyote or Calgary Flame be allowed to wear No. 66?

Especially if the player in question understands that by putting on that particular sweater, he's inviting comparisons between his game and that of Lemieux. And that he is pretty much guaranteed to come out on the wrong side of those comparisons.

Q: How is Angelo Esposito doing with Atlanta? And what did Atlanta do with the first-round draft pick it received for Marian Hossa?

Aaron, Petersburg, W. Va.

MOLINARI: Esposito, who was the Penguins' No. 1 draft choice in 2007, is recovering from major knee surgery for the second season in a row.

He was sent to Atlanta with Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen and a 2008 first-round draft choice for Hossa at the trade deadline in 2008 and was playing for the Thrashers' American Hockey League affiliate in Chicago Nov. 21 when his skate got caught in a rut and he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Esposito underwent surgery to repair the damage earlier this month and faces a lengthy rehabilitation.

Esposito, 20, had no goals and four assists in 12 games with the Wolves when he was injured, and scouts have mixed opinions about whether he can develop into an impact player in the NHL. Having two significant knee injuries so early in his career certainly won't enhance his chances.

Atlanta used the draft choice it got from the Penguins, the 29th selection overall, on center Daultan Leveille, who is a sophomore at Michigan State. He is 5 feet 11, 160 pounds and has three goals and eight assists in 20 games with the Spartans.

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