Any fantasy owner given the chance to add Mario Lemieux to his or her roster should do it. Period.

Mario's fantasy output from 1988-89 through 1996-97 may have been the greatest rotisserie stretch on record. Wayne Gretzky had better raw point totals, but Lemieux's peak came at a time when offense was declining across the league. Lemieux also provided more of a physical presence than Gretzky, once putting together a 100-penalty minute season. He is, simply, the best fantasy hockey player ever.

Lemieux racked up two points per game -- on average -- meaning even a noticeable slip in point production would leave him near the top of any fantasy league. And given the talent around him in Pittsburgh, Mario should be able to average a point a game on assists alone. That's where you can benefit.

Pittsburgh may have the best collection of fantasy forwards outside Denver, and virtually all of them will profit from The Return. Topping the list, of course, are likely linemates Jaromir Jagr and Jan Hrdina. The 24-year-old Hrdina posted 42 and 46 point seasons in his first two years and could emerge as a serious second-half sleeper if coach Ivan Hlinka sticks with the line. Second- and third-line players like Alexei Kovalev, Martin Straka, Robert Lang, Josef Beranek, and Milan Kraft will find scoring opportunities more plentiful if opponents spend too much energy trying to contain Lemieux and Jagr. You won't even notice their reduced ice time.

Oh, and the age question. Right. Steve Yzerman? Point-per-game guy in Detroit? He's also 35.

Get daily tips from The Gamer at espnmag.com, and e-mail him at gamerrules@go.com.