PITTSBURGH — Unlike most players called up from the minors to join the NHL, Guillaume Lefebvre didn't need many introductions when he made his first appearance in the Pittsburgh Penguins' dressing room.

Lefebvre is one of 10 players — plus the coaching staff — who have spent at least part of this season with the AHL Penguins in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

"It's just good to be here and see familiar faces," Lefebvre said. "That makes it easier to adjust quickly. There's guys here you know and like and trust."

Lefebvre, a winger, is one of six players on Pittsburgh's current roster who began the season on the AHL team that was coached by now-Pittsburgh coach Michel Therrien.

That might be a good thing. The AHL Penguins have the best record in their league — 31-5-3-1 through Thursday — while the NHL Penguins are the second-worst team in the NHL (11-27-9 heading into Saturday afternoon's hosting of the Philadelphia Flyers).

"It's good to see guys you played with coming up here," said defenseman Ryan Whitney, who was one of the first players to make his Pittsburgh debut this season when he was recalled Oct. 31 along with Erik Christensen, who was later demoted.

"They're all good players, and that should help us compete better," Whitney said. "Hopefully they can bring the success they had last year and this year to this year and next year and beyond. Every guy knows what it takes to win, so obviously that can carry over."

Wingers Michel Ouellet — who is tied for the team lead in power-play goals with nine despite playing only 19 games — Tomas Surovy and Colby Armstrong and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury also broke camp in the AHL, but now play significant roles with Pittsburgh.

Center Maxime Talbot, winger Konstantin Koltsov, defenseman Rob Scuderi and goalie Sebastien Caron also spent time in Wilkes-Barre this season.

Each of them — plus rookie center Shane Endicott — played under Therrien and assistant Mike Yeo with the AHL Penguins for at least part of the previous two seasons, when the team made the playoffs twice and advanced to the Calder Cup Finals in 2004.

"I think (that success) can carry over, even though the NHL game is faster," Ouellet said. "We all learned from Michel Therrien, which is good, because here everyone has to be on the same page."

Therrien is known for a no-nonsense approach, and the clique of Baby Penguins in the Pittsburgh locker room believe that style can succeed there, too.

"We know what Michel Therrien is about," Lefebvre said. "And what he's trying to do with his system. I know these guys can play. Even though the NHL (competition) is better, they can play here."

Therrien said many of the new players' quick adjustment to the NHL level has a lot to do with the familiarity of their surroundings.

"They know their teammates, know the coaches," Therrien said. "It's not a different atmosphere when they are coming in. They feel comfortable right from the start.