The expectations are different this time. A 47-point jump in the standings will do that.

Some of the names have changed, too. Not that anyone necessarily will notice that Libor Pivko, Moises Gutierrez and Jeff Kyrzakos, among others, aren't on hand.

But when the Penguins begin training camp workouts tomorrow, after getting through the formality of a photos-and-physicals session today, the routine will be much the same as it was a year ago.

The roster will be broken into two squads, not three or four or five. There will be daily scrimmages. And players can expect an immediate immersion in the fundamentals of coach Michel Therrien's system of play.

"I have the format that I believe in," Therrien said. "I'm a true believer in having two teams, because I think the competition is better. NHL players will play against NHL players. That's the best way to get the most out of it.

"On day one, we're going to start working on our system. We don't have many practices, so it's important that every day, we accomplish something."

The camp roster got an intriguing addition yesterday, when free-agent winger Adam Hall turned up on it after accepting a tryout.

Hall, a 6 foot 3, 206-pound blue-collar winger, had six goals and 11 assists in 72 games with the New York Rangers and Minnesota last season. He broke in with Nashville when Penguins general manager Ray Shero worked there and was sent to the Rangers in the three-way trade that brought Dominic Moore to the Penguins.

If Hall, 27, earns a contract, it could cost one of the franchise's young prospects a job in the NHL but also might give Shero more latitude to make a trade.

Precisely how many spots on the roster are up for grabs over the next few weeks isn't clear.

Shero said "there are maybe a couple," but Therrien's estimate wasn't quite as conservative.

"There are always jobs open," he said. "It depends on the performance of the players. If the players perform well, we'll try to find a way for them to stay on our team.

"Players will get an opportunity to show what they're capable of doing and, in the meantime, I have to prepare my team to make sure we're ready for the first game."

The first three days of camp -- all at the Penguins' practice rink at Southpointe -- will be open to the public, with on-ice activities scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and run through 12:20 p.m. Fans also will be able to attend sessions at Mellon Arena Sept. 19 (11:30 a.m.-2:45 p.m.), Sept. 20 (10 a.m.-1:15 p.m.) and Sept. 27 (one group, beginning at 11 a.m.)

The initial three practices are the only ones scheduled for Southpointe, but the Penguins won't spend all their time before the regular-season opener Oct. 5 in Carolina at Mellon Arena, either.

They'll head to Montreal Sunday for exhibition games Monday and Tuesday at the Bell Centre, and also will play Sept. 21 in Detroit and Sept. 29 in Buffalo. They will make another team-building trip to the U.S. Military Academy Sept. 24-26, too.

"We really liked our experience there last year," Therrien said.

The Penguins should be close to, if not at, their 23-man roster for the regular season by the time they depart for West Point. Therrien said he plans to make his first cuts before the Penguins fly to Montreal, with another round the following weekend.

NOTE -- The Penguins signed goalie coach Gilles Meloche to a two-year contract and assistant coaches Andre Savard and Mike Yeo to one-year extensions. All three deals will expire after the 2008-09 season.