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Sunday, July 06, 2003

By Dejan Kovacevic, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

When Mario Lemieux reveals his return to the ice next season, an announcement which could come later this week, it is possible that the loudest cheer will come from a guy lounging on a beach in Turkey.

"Yeah, it will probably be me," said Aleksey Morozov, vacationing on the Black Sea. "I already feel so lucky to have a chance to play so much with Mario, being only 26. To have another chance ... I would be so, so happy."

That's because Morozov might have more to gain from Lemieux's return than anyone, given that he is a virtual lock to reclaim his spot on Lemieux's right wing.

The Penguins are not close to drawing up forward lines for next season, but it is noteworthy that plans already are afoot in the Lemieux camp to get Morozov into town from his native Russia early next month to make sure the two get plenty of skating time together on Neville Island. Morozov did not plan to report until the first week of September, right before camp, but would be delighted to adjust.

"Oh, I'll be there, for sure," he said. "I want to be a part of this."

After sitting out all but 27 games of the 2002-03 season, Morozov might be satisfied to be part of anything hockey-related.

Two wrist bones -- including the scaphoid, the largest one -- were broken Dec. 10 in Toronto from a hard check He did not play again, as complications in getting normal blood flow to return to the scaphoid forced surgeons to insert steel pins in January.

Three weeks ago, doctors told Morozov he could resume skating, stickhandling and shooting, and he has reported no trouble. He still rates his wrist as only "75 percent" now, but not because of the injury.

"I just need to build the muscles back, get stronger" he said. "They told me to do as much as I can and to tell them if anything hurts. I don't have any problems."

Morozov and Lemieux first clicked on a January 2001 trip through Western Canada, but health has kept them from playing together often. Starting with that trip, they shared the ice for only 12 games in 2001-02 and 26 last season. But it still is not difficult to see the benefits Morozov reaps from playing with Lemieux, as he scored 18 goals in those 38 games.

The fact that the best work of Morozov's six-year career has come next to Lemieux could be viewed with a cynical eye. But if he is troubled by the idea of riding a legend's coattails, he apparently has no intention of complaining about getting to do so again.

"He was down at the end of the season, and I wasn't sure if he was coming back," Morozov said. "But I know he wanted to think about it a lot. I'm glad he did. It will be unbelievable when he tells everyone. It will be unbelievable for me, too. I don't mind telling people I like playing with him. I try to help him, and I know he helps me."

Icy chips

There remains no firm date for Lemieux's announcement. A Penguins official yesterday said it could happen later this week but no sooner than Wednesday.

The Penguins are formulating a plan to conduct two mini-camps for rookies this summer. The first, which could happen this month, would be an off-ice orientation no longer than four days. The second would be on the ice just before the start of regular training camp. The Penguins are one of the few NHL teams that do not have rookie camps, but the dramatic influx of youth into the organization has forced a shift in priority.

The Penguins were one of many teams to draw some barking from agents for choosing not to extend qualifying offers to players whose rights could have been retained with a 10 percent raise. Nine Penguins who could have been restricted free agents were cut loose, the third-highest such total in the NHL. "I know what they're trying to do there," one Ontario-based agent said. "But they're still planning on having a team, aren't they? Do they have enough players?" The Penguins actually have nine signed to NHL-only contracts, but many more with two-way status.

Look for the Penguins' complete preseason schedule in the coming week and, possibly, the NHL's regular-season schedule.

Marc-Andre Fleury, the Penguins' top pick in the NHL Entry Draft, is attending a weeklong camp in Montreal under the tutelage of Canadiens goaltending coach Roland Melanson. They have worked before. "He's tough," Fleury said. "But that's OK. That's good for me."

The Penguins' AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre will have its annual FanFest Aug. 1-3 at the shopping center behind the newly-renamed Wachovia Arena. Among players slated to appear are Sebastien Caron and Matt Murley.

The Baby Penguins have existed only four years, but the team already is trying to name an all-time team through an online survey. Winners so far are Toby Petersen at center, Tomas Surovy at left wing, Tom Kostopoulos at right wing and Rich Parent in goal. The defensemen still can be chosen at wbspenguins.com.

Only 67 days to Southpointe.