Mario Lemieux is about to stage one of the greatest comebacks in professional sports history. Just the announcement of his return resulted in box office sellouts in Pittsburgh and across the National Hockey League.

But what about on the ice and in the locker room? We asked the ESPN experts what effect Lemieux's presence will have on the Penguins and the opposition.

What challenges will Penguins coach Ivan Hlinka be facing?

Barry Melrose

Ivan Hlinka has already come through the hardest part of his coaching stint in Pittsburgh – his bout with Jaromir Jagr. Jagr blew up on the bench, wasn't happy with the style of play and wasn't scoring. But Hlinka addressed that situation and is through the worst. With Mario back I think things actually get a bit easier for Hlinka. Mario will be a soothing presence, not a controversial one. Just like with any smart player, and Mario is certainly smart, if you make sense to him, he'll do what you say. If Hlinka has proved to Mario that what he wants will work and will help the team there won't be any problem. The key to making this situation work, though, is Hlinka treating Mario as if he were any other superstar-level player. Being the owner can't enter into Hlinka's thinking or this won't work. I don't expect Mario to use his owner status in any way in game situations. But I'm pretty sure Mario understands this and will even go out of his way to separate playing from owning. Other players on the team will be sensitive to any perceived differences in the way they're treated and Mario will make sure that doesn't happen. Having Mario back will help Hlinka both on the ice and off. He'll still be one of the best and classiest players in the NHL. For Ivan Hlinka, that's worth any challenges the situation might generate.

How will team chemistry change on and off the ice?

Bill Clement

On the ice, Mario Lemieux's role as the owner of the Penguins won't be an issue, but his presence will definitely be felt on the ice. It may take the Penguin players some time before they play their normal game. Guys who've never been on the ice with Lemieux before will go out of their way to get him the puck, almost trying to force their game to accommodate him. It will take a few games before everyone relaxes and gets back to playing their own game. Someone with Lemieux's presence can be intimidating. It's perfectly natural for a player to stray from their game and force the puck to Lemieux, but it's not the way to go. In the locker room, Lemieux will be very quiet. Everyone will be waiting for him to say something, but the guys who haven't played with him will find out in a hurry that he won't say much. Players will at first be inhibited and shy around him, and if the ownership thing comes into play at all, it will be in the locker room. Players will be in awe that not only is one of the greatest players to ever play the game suddenly in their midst, but he also owns the team! The locker room will be much more quiet than usual. Lemieux won't say much, he never has. He will do most of his leading on the ice.

What challenges does a player like Lemieux present to defenders?

Brian Engblom

When he left the game, Mario Lemieux was the best one-on-one player in hockey. He was absolutely the most dangerous player in the NHL. While speed was not his game, he possessed absolute body control and hands that were pure magic. He knows tempo, he knows how to fake, he can slip a punch like a boxer. He'll give you the puck and take it away before you even knew you had it. And it is almost impossible to separate him from the puck; he never loses control of it. Playing one-on-one against him, defenders are in a state of fear because you never know what he's going to do to you – and you know he can do almost anything.

From a goaltender's standpoint, what is it like facing Lemieux?

Darren Pang

The minute Mario steps on the ice and has the puck, a goaltender is completely aware and focused. The arena vibrates when he has the puck and the goalie is more attentive than anyone in the building. In a breakaway situation, the things that put fear into a goaltender with Mario are his long reach – he's a right-hand shot – and he never panics. He will never be the first one to make a move, the goaltender always commits first. His patience is incredible. Then he can use that reach do do just about anything he wants with the puck. He's unique in that he's soft with his hands to make a move but he's also incredibly accurate with his shot under the crossbar and between the legs. One-on-none he's the deadliest player there is. When you look at Mario you always have to worry equally about him taking it to the net or setting up a teammate. For most other players, a goalie is worried about one or the other. Even with Wayne Gretzky goaltenders were acutely aware of where the other players on the ice were because he was such a magician passing the puck. Mario doesn't mind shooting the puck and, getting back to his wingspan, he can change angles on his shot very quickly. He can also feather the puck to a teammate as well as anyone, with the possible exception of Gretzky.