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Thursday, June 12, 2003

By Dejan Kovacevic, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

The Penguins still have a vacancy on their NHL coaching staff, and it could prove no less critical than the hiring of Eddie Olczyk.

General Manager Craig Patrick announced yesterday that assistants Randy Hillier and Joe Mullen are being retained and that one more will be added to the group. He said it could come from the field of candidates who already contacted him about the head coaching position but added that he was not limiting his list.

The profile is for someone with NHL experience, preferably as a head coach, to help Olczyk adjust to his first venture behind a bench.

"I think it's very important for our organization and -- no question -- for me to get somebody in here that I know and who I feel can help what we're trying to do," Olczyk said. "I'm not embarrassed to say that, the more help you get the better."

Olczyk's first choice would be John Paddock, head coach of the Ottawa Senators' AHL affiliate in Binghamton, N.Y., and Olczyk's head coach with the Winnipeg Jets in the early 1990s. But it is believed Paddock turned down Olczyk. Paddock did not return phone calls yesterday.

The next target could be Lorne Molleken, who coached Olczyk with the Chicago Blackhawks in his final two NHL seasons, 1998-2000. Molleken has been an assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks the past two seasons.

Hillier and Mullen, whose contracts expired after this past season, have not signed new ones but have agreed to terms. The breakdown of their duties has not been determined.

Kehoe, Johnston adjust

Rick Kehoe, fired as head coach April 15, will become the Penguins' pro scout next season. His duties will be to study opponents for advance games and potential trades.

Ed Johnston, Patrick's assistant general manager, will concentrate solely on that role and not work with the coaching staff as he did for most of the past two seasons.

Lemieux boost

Owner Mario Lemieux did not attend the Olczyk news conference, but he offered support for Patrick's hire in a statement:

"I think Eddie is a terrific choice. I've had the chance to spend a lot of time with him over the past few years and I've always been impressed by his knowledge of the game. I've been his teammate, I've been his linemate and can tell you that he knows this game inside and out. He's got passion for hockey and for the Penguins, and, because of his experience here, he already has tremendous knowledge about the players in our organization."

More changes?

Patrick did not rule out more roster changes this summer, possibly through trades.

"That remains to be seen," he said. "We're definitely not going to start next season with the team we finished with. It should be a busy summer for us."

Patrick said talk among general managers regarding trades for positioning in the NHL Entry Draft is heating up. The Penguins pick third, and Patrick said he would be willing to move up or down. If he feels the team can still get its preferred player at a lower spot, he would move down, but "we also have to get something beneficial in return."

Patrick said no figure has been set for the Penguins' payroll for 2003-04. It was $34 million last season and already has been reduced by at least $10 million.

"I don't know what it will be," he said. "The lower the better, from some people's perspectives."

Icy chips

The Penguins still have a vacancy for the head coaching position with their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre, but Patrick said he "didn't want to even think about it" before filling that role in Pittsburgh. ... Patrick said the only immediate plan he has to sign any of the team's European draft picks by the NHL's July 15 deadline is for defenseman Vladimir Malenkykh. Malenkykh, a fifth-round pick in 1999, has spent the past five seasons in the Russian Superleague. ... Center Brian Holzinger, who missed the final three games of this past season because of a knee injury, is skating and expects to be fully recovered by training camp. ... Patrick was misty-eyed throughout Olczyk's opening speech to the media. When asked about that later, he replied: "I cry when I'm happy. I need a psychologist or something."