Former Penguins right winger Aleksey Morozov, coming off two excellent seasons in the Russian Super League, still is a candidate to return to the NHL this winter.

He apparently won't do it with the Penguins, though.

General manager Ray Shero said this week that Morozov is "not [in] my price range."

Morozov, an unrestricted free agent, is believed to be seeking at least $3 million per season, although his precise contract demands are not known. His agent, Jay Grossman, was not available for comment yesterday, but sent word through a representative that "there's nothing new to report now."

Shero said he has not spoken with Grossman about Morozov "since the start of free agency," but that they discussed Morozov when they were in Vancouver for the June 24 entry draft.

Morozov, 29, has a three-year deal to return to Ak Bars Kazan in the Super League if he doesn't land with an NHL club.

Orpik files for arbitration

Defenseman Brooks Orpik, who earned $650,000 in 2005-06, and forward Ryan Malone were the only Penguins to file for salary arbitration by the deadline yesterday afternoon.

Forwards Colby Armstrong and Jani Rita and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury also could have done so.

All the Penguins' arbitration-eligible players are restricted free agents who received qualifying offers last month. Under the league's labor agreement, they have until July 15 to accept those offers, although that deadline can be pushed back at the team's request. Arbitration hearings will be held July 20-Aug. 4.

Shero said he anticipates waiting until near, or after, the July 15 deadline before opening serious negotiations with free agents who don't accept their qualifying offer.

"This is something that, in the next 10 days, we'll turn our attention to and see what kind of progress we can make," he said.

It is extremely rare for restricted free agents to sign with another club because their current teams can either match the offer or, if they decline to do that, receive compensation in the form of draft choices.

Decision due soon on scouts

In addition to his other chores in coming weeks, Shero will decide whether to dismantle, fine-tune and/or expand his scouting staff.

It is not unusual for a staff to be revamped or replaced entirely when a new general manager assumes control. Shero, though, has given no indication of how sweeping his changes will be.

"This is also [going to be handled] over the next couple of weeks," he said. "That's the time frame I gave the scouts when I met with them after the draft, so I can try to put some things in place.

"I want to give it its due respect and make sure I make the right decision on people. It's their livelihood. I don't want to rush into anything."

Another job for Olczyk

Former Penguins coach Eddie Olczyk was named lead-game analyst on NBC's NHL telecasts yesterday.

He replaces John Davidson, who has been named president of the St. Louis Blues, and will be paired with play-by-play man Mike Emrick.

Olczyk scouted for the Penguins after being replaced as coach by Michel Therrien in mid-December, but is returning to his hometown of Chicago after accepting a job as analyst on Blackhawks telecasts.