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Friday, August 23, 2002

By Dejan Kovacevic, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

The scene didn't quite carry the panache of a high-fashion runway show in France, but right winger Alexei Kovalev and defenseman Ian Moran did their best to model the Penguins' new home sweaters at a Mellon Arena news conference yesterday. They twirled, tilted and even teased about a dozen photographers.

	The Penguins' Ian Moran and Alexei Kovalev answer reporters' questions yesterday. (Darrell Sapp, Post-Gazette)

"That was fun," Kovalev said. "I'm glad I came."

"It will be nice to wear this at home," Moran said. "It's a good design. I like everything about it. I like the work they did on it."

The design is the same as the black alternate sweaters worn the past two seasons, only white and black are inverted. The more significant statement was made in dropping the modern logo that had been in use since 1992 and reinstating the original skating penguin as the primary crest on all uniforms.

"We feel, as many of our fans feel, that the skating penguin represents the legacy of the franchise," said Mike Lee, vice president of properties. "We're very happy it's back."

So was Moran.

"When I was growing up, the skating penguin was what I always thought of as Pittsburgh. I love it. It's looked a little different over the years. Sometimes, it looked like a mean penguin, where other times it looked like Chilly Willy, but it's always been cool."

He predicted big things for the sweater, which went on sale yesterday at the team's merchandise outlet in Mellon Arena and on its official Web site.

"I think this is the kind of shirt you'll start seeing again on MTV, just like that one Snoop Dogg wore in the early '90s."

The Penguins will don the new sweaters for the first time in the Oct. 10 home opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Straka update

General Manager Craig Patrick expressed optimism that injured center Martin Straka could play this season, depending on what doctors determine after Straka arrives in Pittsburgh from the Czech Republic in early September. But he ruled out his availability to start the season.

Straka has a fractured vertebra and torn ligament in his back as the result of a weightlifting accident in July. He is in a brace as doctors wait to see if he will require surgery to repair the ligament. If he does, he will be out six months and miss most or all of the season.

The ligament is the main area of concern. Patrick said there is a chance it could heal without surgery.

"Marty's anxious to get over here and see what our doctors have to say," Patrick said. "Having it in a back brace helps the healing process. He's not bending or twisting or anything like that which might irritate it. ... Hopefully, there's some healing going on."

Of Straka's various misfortunes, Patrick said, "Things happen, but ... you just wonder, when is this thing going to stop?"

Kovalev said he called Straka shortly after the accident and teased him a bit.

"I told him, 'If I was in your place, I'd be afraid to go anywhere.' I mean, just making a step, I'd be afraid to get hurt."

More from Patrick

Patrick addressed a few other matters in his first interview session this month:

He is no longer talking to any free agents. "We're very comfortable with the people we're bringing to camp."

It was the Penguins rather than free-agent center Andrew Cassels who pulled out of talks to bring him to Pittsburgh earlier this month. "In the end, we decided it wasn't something we wanted to do."

Herb Brooks still hasn't signed a contract to become director of player development but confirmed it will happen before the season. "I think he's the perfect guy for that role. He was a little weary of scouting, and he wanted more of a challenge. And we could always use help in that area."

Richard Rose, a part-time scout last season, will be promoted to full-time to replace Brooks.

He is optimistic center Alexandre Daigle will make the team off his training-camp tryout. "He's got great speed and great skill. He might be a good pickup for us."

He reported no significant movement in talks to sign the team's two remaining NHL-caliber restricted free agents, defensemen Michal Rozsival and Josef Melichar. "We'll see. Nothing's done yet."

Approximately 60 players will be invited to camp, which opens Sept. 12. Coach Rick Kehoe's intent is to have three full teams for intrasquad scrimmages.

He vowed that, despite his heavy volume of additions to the roster this off-season, the players who make the Penguins' lineup after camp will be based on who earns it rather than who has an NHL-only contract. "We're not going to stick with people who aren't better than other people. They need to prove they're in the top 12 forwards and the top seven or eight defensemen."

New Hall of Famers

The Penguins announced they will add three members -- defenseman Ulf Samuelsson, goaltender Les Binkley and organist Vince Lascheid -- to their Hall of Fame in a ceremony before the Feb. 23 home game against the New Jersey Devils.

Samuelsson, one of the most popular players in franchise history, was renowned for his rugged style while playing for the Penguins in 1991-95. Binkley, the first player to be property of the Penguins when they joined the NHL in 1967, was the team's linchpin for its first five seasons. Lascheid has been the team's organist since 1970.

A college try

The Penguins, in their continuing effort to entice a nearby university to promote their hockey program to the NCAA Division I level, added a game between Penn State and Washington & Jefferson to their Jan. 3 college showcase.

Penn State and Washington & Jefferson, which play at the club level, will be the preliminary game. Ohio State and Princeton, Division I teams, will be the headliner.

Tom Rooney, head of Team Lemieux LLC, wants a Division I team to share the Penguins' proposed new arena.

Penn State Coach Joe Batista said his program is trying to upgrade. He also said Pitt and Duquesne were possibilities.

Nailers coming

The Wheeling Nailers, the Penguins' East Coast Hockey League affiliate, will play at Mellon Arena for the first time Oct. 20 with a game against the Peoria Rivermen. The event was created because of a scheduling conflict at the Wheeling Civic Center.

Golf outing

Members of the Penguins' championship teams in 1991-92 will participate in the team's fifth annual charity golf outing Monday at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. Among those who will attend are Mario Lemieux, Mark Recchi, Rick Tocchet, Joe Mullen, Phil Bourque, Jay Caufield, Frank Pietrangelo and Ken Wregget.