R.J. Umberger, the former first-round draft choice from Plum who became a free agent June 1, plans to reveal his new team today.

And while he declined to divulge the name of the team last night -- perhaps because he hadn't completed the deal -- it's clear it won't be the Penguins.

Umberger acknowledged that the Penguins have "pretty much" become a non-factor in the competition for his rights, and said he is "weighing a couple of options now."

Although he declined to identify which clubs remain on his short list, Philadelphia and Toronto appear to be the front-runners.

Umberger, whom Vancouver selected with the 16th choice in the 2002 entry draft, became a free agent when the New York Rangers, who had acquired his rights in a trade March 9, failed to sign him by June 1.

That gave the Rangers a compensatory choice in the second round of the draft late this month and Umberger an opportunity to select his next team.

He made no secret of his interest in playing for the Penguins, and general manager Craig Patrick said Sunday that the team planned to explore the possibility of signing Umberger.

The Penguins, though, are believed to have offered a deal featuring a salary of about $600,000, while indications are that the Flyers and Maple Leafs are willing to pay him $1,185,000, the maximum salary for players from his draft year.

Umberger said that he didn't speak with Patrick but that his agent, Brian Lawton, has. Lawton has not responded to repeated interview requests the past 10 days.

Umberger has met with several prospective employers since becoming a free agent and volunteered that "how those interviews went will be part of" his final decision.

"I want to go to a place where I feel I'm going to do well," he said.

Umberger, a center who is a good skater and accomplished goal-scorer, played three years at Ohio State, but skipped his senior season because he expected to sign with the Canucks.

Those negotiations did not produce an agreement, however, and Umberger did not play during the 2003-04 season. He spent part of it working out with the U.S. national team, the rest training by himself until the Rangers picked him up in a trade that sent Martin Rucinsky to the Canucks.