Darrell Sapp, Post-Gazette Penguins general manager Craig Patrick and coach Ed Olczyk hope to see a rejuvenated Mario Lemieux on the ice this season. Click photo for larger image.

Wearing a tight-fitting, white T-shirt and dark slacks, the owner-player and centerpiece of the Penguins' alumni charity golf tournament yesterday looked so trim that he caused several onlookers to break into that familiar summertime refrain:

The best shape of his life.

It sprang from the lips of everyone from general manager Craig Patrick to ex-teammates to spectators around Olde Stonewall Golf Club in Ellwood City.

"It's a testament to all the work he's doing," said Jay Caufield, the personal on-ice trainer who is scheduled to rejoin Mario Lemieux for skating sessions starting early next week. Caufield estimated that Lemieux weighs less than 230 pounds, and, even though the captain broke that weight barrier before, he probably wasn't this fit. "I think he's on a mission. He's got an opportunity with Canada and the World Cup, but I also think with the team. I think he liked how the team ended up last year. And, with the people they've added, there's got to be some more excitement for him."

This particular ex-teammate also trains one of those recent additions, ex-Penguins and former Philadelphia winger Mark Recchi. But Lemieux skated alone with Caufield a couple of times over the past week and a half. And, given Lemieux's hip surgery in January, he skated without pain or problem, the trainer added.

Caufield termed Lemieux as "being very delicate" when they first hit the ice. "Just get the skates underneath you. He had a way, 15 minutes in ... he just had a certain stride, a drive. He looked strong by the end of what we were doing Day 1. I think we'll see a lot more when we start again" next week.

Lemieux has returned to the ice sooner than summers past, primarily because the World Cup of Hockey teams start camp in mid-August, rather than having to report to NHL camp in early to mid-September (if there isn't a lockout).

It isn't just Caufield working with Lemieux, either. It's a variety of support off the ice. It's training while on the road in the summer downtime as well, Caufield said. That compilation of facets has been a boon to the player who more than a decade ago uttered to then-teammate -- and yesterday outing participant -- Ron Francis something about late-summer training meaning that he gave up French fries.

Caufield has seen a motivated Lemieux since his aborted comeback in December against Toronto.

"He knows the things he needs to do for himself," said Caufield, who didn't partake of the golf outing while recovering from a creaky back. "You take a piece from everybody. He needs point-specific things: He's got people who know about his back problem, people who know about his hips ? parts that have been problems for him in the past. If you keep yourself in shape, it's less stressful. And he's in great shape. I can tell when he gets on the ice and how he's skating."

Lemieux, in keeping with something of a front-office policy what with NHL labor, slots and arena issues hanging, declined to comment yesterday.

Patrick to talk to Hull

Patrick plans to call back today to chat with the agent representing Brett Hull, the NHL's No. 3 all-time goal scorer already deep into negotiations with Dallas and Phoenix.

"We've talked to them," Patrick said of Hull's representatives, mainly agent/brother Bobby Hull Jr. "I know there are a couple of other teams that are talking to them. We'll see how it plays out."

Other free-agent possibilities still loom -- ex-Penguins center Alexei Kovalev? Alexei Zhamnov? -- yet Patrick maintains that there's no urgency for either him or those particular players.

"We're definitely looking to see if we can add some players, but it's got to be at the right price," said Patrick, who likewise spent yesterday at the Penguins alumni golf outing. "I don't know if [the muddled free-agency picture] is going to unclear anytime soon. We have a budget, and everybody has to fit in the budget."

The Penguins operated around a $20 million payroll by the end of last season and anticipate a $30 million-or-so threshold as a possible result of the current NHL labor negotiations.

As for right winger Aleksey Morozov's move to sign a contract -- without an escape clause -- to play the 2004-05 season with Ak Bars Kazan of the Russian SuperLeague, Patrick said: "I didn't expect it. When I reflect on it, it doesn't surprise me. When I'm looking from their side of the table, you're not sure what's going to happen this year and what's coming ahead. Maybe they thought it would be a better value for them next year, if he's an unrestricted free agent" under a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Patrick anticipates finding a pile of contracts when he returns to his Mellon Arena office this morning. Qualifying offers tendered earlier to 18 Penguins came with a July 30 deadline, and 13 were still unsigned when Patrick left the office the middle of last week. At least one, winger Ramzi Abid, apparently filed with league officials that he signed a $495,000 contract for 2004-05.

Besides Abid, the Penguins made qualifying offers (at a 10-percent increase over last season's salary) but hadn't heard back from: Kris Beech, Shane Endicott, Matt Hussey, David Koci, Milan Kraft, Guillaume Lefebvre, Ross Lupaschuk, Matt Murley, Brooks Orpik, Darcy Robinson, Michal Sivek and Tomas Surovy.

"If they didn't accept them," Patrick said, "they don't have a contract. And there's no guarantee they'll get one."

Sivek and Koci are listed by the Czech club Sparta Praha as having signed to rejoin their former team.