Q: Brooks Orpik looks like such a fast and fluid skater when he gets some open ice. Has he ever been more of an offensive defenseman? Do you think he has more offensive potential and that he's been role-bound in Pittsburgh?

Michael Gallaway, Medford, N.J.

MOLINARI: Does Orpik have vast, untapped offensive potential? Well, someone probably could argue that. The catch is, it might be easier to make a case that the moderator of this forum should serve as Brad Pitts' stunt double in his next film.

Orpik is, as you noted, an excellent skater. Unfortunately for him -- and especially for his bank account -- his legs are light-years ahead of his hands. Orpik can make basic offensive plays, like moving the puck ahead to a forward and getting shots on goal from the point, but he's in the league because of his ability to play defense and hit people, not because of any special offensive gifts.

The good news is that mobility is an asset for any player, regardless of his particular style, so being able to get around the ice isn't wasted on Orpik.

Q: Regarding the Penguins' salary-cap situation, are teams able to skirt the salary cap by giving out "money up front" in the form of signing bonuses in the fashion currently employed by the majority of NFL franchises?

Ron, Greenfield

MOLINARI: Happily for those who believe in fiscal restraint -- or at least what passes for fiscal restraint in professional sports -- the NHL's collective bargaining agreement appears to have been constructed without any loopholes such as the one you describe. Really, if teams were allowed to get around the salary cap through any means, it would undermine the entire point of having one in the first place, and deep-pockets teams would have the same competitive advantage they enjoyed before the current labor deal went into effect.

To be sure, the Penguins would now benefit if they now had a way to give players more money than the cap allows in a given season -- clearly, it would enhance their chances of keeping their core of talent together -- but the CBA is supposed to be designed for the greater good, not the benefit of a specific franchise. Keeping a realistic limit on payrolls gives teams in smaller markets a reasonable chance to field a competitive club. That translates to increased public interest which, in theory, should lead to higher ticket sales and television ratings.

One other significant difference between NHL contracts and those in football: The ones in the NHL are guaranteed. Consequently, any money a player is promised in it not only must be paid, but counts against the salary cap.

Q: Which Penguins player do you think needs to step up his game the most in the next round of the playoffs, and what healthy scratch do you think has the best chance at cracking the lineup?

Chris, North Hills

MOLINARI: Which healthy scratch will be the first to get into a game hinges on who gets injured or slumps badly enough that the coaching staff decides he shouldn't be playing. If, for example, the Penguins have a left winger who gets hurt, No. 3 goalie Dany Sabourin isn't going to get the call to take his place in the lineup.

Not to further belabor a point that already been discussed at great length here, and presumably elsewhere, but defenseman Ryan Whitney is the player whose Round 1 performance left the greatest room for improvement. If he can do that, the Penguins chances of getting into the Eastern Conference final should be greatly enhanced.