PITTSBURGH – One person didn't seem to care too much when Mario Lemieux took the ice at Wednesday's morning skate prior to the Toronto Maple Leafs-Pittsburgh Penguins game.

That was Austin Lemieux.

Notebook

More Mario … It's expected that Lemieux will skate on a line with Jaromir Jagr and Jan Hrdina. Lemieux talked with Hrdina during the first few laps around the ice. However, a few line combinations might be used. … Lemieux said he will play center but won't take faceoffs in the defensive zone. … Despite what Lemieux says about being "one of the guys," he wasn't yukking it up with anyone during the skate. In fact, after talking with Hrdina, it didn't seem like anyone went near Lemieux. … Lemieux looks different without that egg-shell shaped Jofa helmet he used to wear. He now sports a Nike helmet. Penguin ponderings … Jagr didn't skate, but he popped his head out to watch for a few minutes. … Say what you want about Matthew Barnaby, but he always has energy in practice and keeps people loose. Barnaby is still serving a suspension for his "treatment" of a fan, but rumors are he wants out of Pittsburgh because he wants more playing time. The Pens would be best served trying to keep a spot for Barnaby, especially since he'd likely take a bullet to protect Lemieux. … Joe Mullen used to be Lemieux's teammate. Now, he's his coach. As one of the Penguins assistants, Mullen ran the practice. Leafs aren't shaking … Darcy Tucker, a tough and gritty forward, said no Toronto player will take a run at Lemieux, but they'll hit him. "It's not going to be a free skate. No one's going to be stupid, but we'll play the body. He's an elite player, and you have to do what you have to do." … Curtis Joseph didn't skate, so Glenn Healy was the only goalie on the ice. … A lot of the Toronto players were excited about the atmosphere, but admitted a win had to be their focus. The Leafs have lost five of their last six. Stops and starts … Jacques Demers, the retired NHL coach who now does French-langauge television in Canada, chimed in on how the Maple Leafs needed to approach Lemieux on the ice: "They won't go after him, but they will play the body, and especially will try and slow him down in the neutral zone. Mario won't mind that. It's how you get in shape." … Jay Caufield, Lemieux's personal trainer during his comeback bid, had mini rock-star status at the skatearound, with several media members wanting his opinion on Lemieux's readiness. "I don't think he ever worked the way he has the last few weeks," Caulfield said. – Brian A. Shactman

Mario's 4-year-old son was too busy playing floor hockey on the second level concourse with one of his little buddies. He might as well have been in the family living room with a video tape of an old game daddy played rolling on the VCR. And mon dieux! – Austin was playing in goal.

"Oh, he's excited," the elder Lemieux said after his brief skate with the team. "He told me to score a hat trick, so there's a little pressure on me."

If Austin's request is pressure, what about everybody else's expectations? While Little Lemieux was carrying on like it was just another day at Mellon Arena, a throng of observers was on hand Wednesday morning, including more than a dozen cameras, and media faces only seen at the All-Star Game and Stanley Cup finals.

But Lemieux, who had been media shy to the point of antagonism during his last tour of duty, took everything in stride. He even let Austin answer a question or two as they departed the arena – all that after a lengthy news conference during which he was asked five basic questions recycled different ways and in different languages. His reponses: