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Friday, March 30, 2001
Chat wrap: Pittsburgh Penguins center Wayne Primeau
ABC Sports Online
On March 30, Pittsburgh Penguins center Wayne Primeau made a special appearance in the chat room to discuss this Saturday's game between the Penguins and the St. Louis Blues (ABC, 3 p.m. ET), the playoffs and the time he fought his brother Keith (of the Flyers).
Pens4Life
Hey Wayne!
Mario Lemieux has had the ability to turn many of his linemates into scorers, and prolific ones at that (Robby Brown, Kevin Stevens, etc). Do you feel that you could do comparable offensive damage with the opportunity to skate regularly on a line with Le Magnifique?
|  | | Wayne Primeau has one goal and four assists in 23 games with Pittsburgh this year. |
Wayne Primeau
Anybody could. There are a lot of players he has raised their level of play. I only played two periods with him. We had a few injuries and a suspension, so we had to switch the lines around.
He was always someone that you idolized. Now the chance to play on a team with him is exciting.
Pens4EVER
What do you think about the Left Wing Lock system that seems to work for you guys? Detroit uses it well and it promotes offense unlike the trap. Do you think that it could work consistently and the big stars like Jags will buy into it?
Wayne Primeau
It's a lot like the trap. You're clogging up the neutral zone. It's hard for the other team to carry the puck into their end. With our team, for most of the year, was more of a run-and gun style. You can't afford to get behind each game two or three goals. Even though we have a lot of scoring weapons, you can't continue to play that way or you'll continue to lose.
I think it's good that we instilled defense into our style, so that we can create some turnovers and let some of our guys capitalize on those.
Anthony K
What's it like playing with owner? Also two weeks ago the Downey brothers had a scrap with each other in the AHL level and there parents weren't to happy, how did your parents react when you fought Keith?
Wayne Primeau
He was in Hartford at the time. I was in Buffalo.
After the game, we called home. My dad was laughing, but my mom was in the background a little bit upset with everything. It changed the tone of my dad's voice. They know it's a part of the game, but it's something they don't want to see happen again.
I won, of course. He probably says he won.
We both knew who we were fighting. We were holding back on punches, but there were a couple of times where he landed a couple and it ticked me off. I tried to throw and uppercut and it just missed him. Then he thought it was a little bit crazy and kind of threw me to the ground.
Lemieux=God
What does the team feel about the goalie situation. Will it be Hedberg, Snow, or Aubin? Snow has the experience, but Hedberg has the hot hand. Any help...please!!!
Wayne Primeau
Snow has been out a while. It will be good for him to get some time before the end of the playoffs. But the way Hedberg has been playing, it's good to go with the hot hand.
It's the coaches' decision. The players will be happy with whoever it is.
barreira27
wayne,what was your reaction when you were dealt to a playoff conteder?What do you think of your teams chances in the playoffs?
Wayne Primeau
I played 3 1/2 years with Buffalo, and each year, we went further and further. There's no better feeling than to get that far, and to know how close you are and how much fun it is. It's a great ride to know what it's like. When you are in Tampa, and know you are not going to make the playoffs, and not knowing when you are going to be back, I was happy pretty happy to go to Pittsburgh, a team that has a great chance to do well in the playoffs.
Flyershockey2001
Hi Wayne! How do you feel about your brother's injury?
Wayne Primeau
You play all year to get in good position for the playoffs. Playoffs are what hockey is all about and what you play for. I'm a little sad to see him injured and he probably will not be ready for the first round. They have a good enough team to get past that first round. I'm sure he's hoping that, so that he can play in this year's playoffs.
For our standpoint, it's good for us since Philly is one of our better teams in the conference, and if we play them without him, that would be an added bonus for us.
The Babz
Any preference on who'd you like to see in the first round? Another domination of the Capitals, perhaps?
Wayne Primeau
It doesn't really matter. Whoever plays the best, you are eventually going to meet. You are going to have to face those teams. Anything can happen. Playoff hockey is a different time of the year.
Mike D
Do you think you are better served by grinding on a checking line, or on one of the top scoring lines, if there was room?
Wayne Primeau
Since I have been on this level and playing on the third line, playing with guys that the puck in deep and finish checks and try and grind down low and bring the puck to the net. To play well defensively has suited my role since I turned professional. Growing up in the junior ranks, I was usually on the first two lines, more of an offensive player. You have to do whatever it takes to help the team win. On this team, we have a lot of offensive weapons, so they need players to play well defensively and score goals here and there and finish checks.
patc27
Who shows off in practice more, Lemiuex, Jagr or Kovalev?
Wayne Primeau
Nobody really shows off in practice. It just comes naturally to those guys. The puck seems like it is glued to their stick. I don't think they doing any showing. They are very skilled with the puck.
hockeymania51
Wayne,
What is the biggest difference between the other teams you have played on and the Penguins?
Wayne Primeau
Buffalo was a more defensive type team, and didn't have any other stars except Dominik Hasek. Tampa was a young team in a rebuilding stage and are trying to find its niche at winning.
Pittsburgh is a team that has made the playoffs 10 years in a row and has a lot of stars. They are always a high-scoring team.
Geno
How long does it take a player to fit into a new system after a trade?
Wayne Primeau
When I first came over, there wasn't much of a system. Just forecheck and try to get the puck to the net as much as possible. The last few games, we have had the left wing lock that has helped out our play a lot.
LisaluvsWayne15
Does Mario give you lots of advice and tips?
Wayne Primeau
Mario is more vocal in the locker room than Jagr. If he doesn't think that are working, he will let us all know. He's not afraid to speak up. He's one of the best players, if not the best player, to play the game. Usually when he talks, everybody listens.
It's weird with him being the owner. Not common in hockey where the owner is a player. Guys treat him like the other players.
benny_e
should we be looking for any changes in the penguins before the playoffs?
Wayne Primeau
I don't think so because the trade deadline is over with. If there are injuries, there might be a few callups. The goaltending situation might change, but other than that, I think everyone is happy with how things are going.
I have to go. Thanks for the questions. Go Penguins.
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 Wayne Primeau slaps it in for Buffalo.
avi: 486 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Wayne Primeau's multi-goal game helped to thrash Atlanta.
avi: 797 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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