"Center is, on paper, the Penguins' deepest position.

Fact is, they have the finest collection of centers in the NHL.

When it is intact, anyway.

It has not been very often over the past two seasons, however, which is why the Penguins claimed Cal O'Reilly from Phoenix on re-entry waivers Wednesday.

He is not a threat to knock Evgeni Malkin , Sidney Crosby or Jordan Staal out of a job, but, with the latter two still recovering from long-term injuries, the Penguins hope O'Reilly will provide an infusion of talent and finesse down the middle.

"He's got skill, playmaking ability at, really, a high level," coach Dan Bylsma said Wednesday evening. "He can make plays, make great passes, sees the ice really well. That's some of the attraction of getting a guy through the middle, where we're not very strong or deep right now.""