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Because of the strong response to Bill Ratay's Mellon Arena memories printed in the Q&A recently, similar submissions from other readers interested in sharing their recollections will be posted in the Penguins area of PG-Plus. Those pieces can be sent via the Q&A submission form or to DMolinari@Post-Gazette.com

Q: What has gotten into Pascal Dupuis? Originally a throw-in in the Marian Hossa deal, he has become a legitimate contributor. His recent point streak notwithstanding, can the Pens seriously compete for a Cup with him on one of the top two lines?

Drew, Cranberry

MOLINARI: There's no question that Hossa was the centerpiece of that trade with Atlanta two years ago -- not even members of Dupuis' immediate family are likely to suggest otherwise -- but the Penguins will dispute the characterization of Dupuis as a "throw-in" in the deal.

General manager Ray Shero and members of his staff have contended since the swap was made that they were intent on having Dupuis, who had established himself as a valuable role player, included. It doesn't seem like the Penguins would have allowed that to be a deal-killer if Thrashers GM Don Waddell had refused, but it wasn't as if the Penguins accepted Dupuis just to, say, take a contract off Atlanta's hands.

It's funny but, not so long ago, Dupuis was a guy many readers cited as someone who could be culled from the lineup to create salary-cap space without the Penguins suffering from his absence. Much as some folks were wondering, little more than a year ago, why the Penguins were wasting a roster spot on what they considered, to put it gently, a nondescript defenseman like Rob Scuderi.

Dupuis is an extremely good skater and responsible all over the ice, which is why he's an effective penalty-killer. The defensive side of is game is pretty consistent, and is the key to his continued employment in the NHL.

He also has, on occasion, flashed a scoring touch -- he actually got 50 goals in his final season of major-junior, and 20 with Minnesota in 2002-03 -- and like every player, goes through hot and cold streaks. He certainly is riding one of the former at the moment, and enters the Penguins' game at New Jersey tonight with four goals in the past seven games and 17 for the season. For a guy who is counted on for 10-15 over a season, that's a pretty good run.

To Dupuis' credit, he has not changed his game since he began hitting the net regularly. The confidence born of scoring has not altered his focus on the blue-collar basics of his job description and, if anything, has elevated the quality of the rest of his game.

When he is producing the way he has lately, he certainly is not out of place in a top-six role. However, the thinking here is that Dupuis, much like Max Talbot -- who carved out a place in franchise history with his work alongside Evgeni Malkin during the 2009 playoffs -- ultimately is most effective when deployed on a third or fourth line.

It's great when teams get significant offense from players who weren't projected to give that much, but that's not something likely to continue for an extended period. Players, whether they are slumping or streaking, generally return to their customary level of production before too terribly long.

Q: I know the Consol Energy Center hasn't opened yet, but has anyone thought of a nickname for the new arena? Consol Energy Center seems a bit wordy for everyday speak. Since the Pens are moving from the Igloo, and the Devils have the Rock, I'll nominate the Consol Energy Center as "The Power Plant."

Tony, Plum

MOLINARI: Actually, there were numerous suggestions, many of which seemed to have ties to the coal-mining industry, when Consol got the naming rights to the arena, and it wouldn't be a surprise if the issue surfaces from time to time on message boards and other places where fans convene.

And now that you've resurrected the subject in the Q&A, it's possible that readers will come forth with a wave of new (and some not-so-new) suggestions. If that happens, we'll compile them and put them out for consideration and discussion in a future Q&A.

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