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Sunday, July 20, 2003

By Dejan Kovacevic, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

A few years from now, when the Penguins raise the Stanley Cup for a third time in their new Uptown arena, when Marc-Andre Fleury wins the Conn Smythe Trophy, when captain Rico Fata thanks the crowd at the Point two days later for its support ... not one person will be thinking about that rookie orientation the team held in 2003.

Nor should they. The process of flying in nine prospects to hammer their knees and shake their hands, in and of itself, is not the stuff of which champions are made.

But it is a piece.

The last time a local sports team committed to rebuilding was the Pirates, with their infamous five-year plan of 1997. But the only part of the process they nailed was the elimination of veterans. From there, it was one stopgap measure after another at the major-league level, while precious little changed at the developmental level.

The Penguins nailed that first part, too, in a manner which was painful to many of their followers. Much high-priced talent was traded away, including Alexei Kovalev in a blatant cash dump. More could come, too, if the team eventually finds a taker for Martin Straka.

But, even as that has gone on, the Penguins also have taken concrete steps to do more than cut costs:

It started last summer with the appointment of Herb Brooks as director of player development, finally creating a much-needed roving presence to work with prospects, signed or unsigned.

Although the hiring of Eddie Olczyk left the team wide open to criticism because of his zero bench experience, the selection was made because of his perceived ability to teach and communicate, which, at the least, was the right motivation. Those traits were the organization's greatest deficiency at the post, in Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre, and the status quo could have undone any talent the team would draft. The choosing of the vocal Michel Therrien in Wilkes-Barre came through the same thought process.

The team finally began to address its unusual lack of a full-time goaltending coach by naming Lorne Molleken, a former goaltender, as Olczyk's final assistant.

The bold move up in the June NHL Entry Draft to select Fleury first overall best displayed the commitment to serious rebuilding. Fleury's rookie contract could pay him more than $12 million over its three years. If the Penguins were interested only in saving money, they could have stayed put at No. 3.

The marketing campaign for next season will focus on youth, even though the return of Mario Lemieux for another year surely will eclipse that concept in the mind of the buying public.

All but the last of the above moves were made by General Manager Craig Patrick, who has been criticized in recent years -- not without justification -- for failing to keep up with the times in the NHL.

By comparison, the three-day rookie orientation which ended yesterday seems small. The prospects had physical testing, met with the team's staff, toured the city and got to know each other a bit, but they never set foot on ice and undoubtedly did not improve as hockey players in the slightest.

Still, to hear them talk, the visit made a difference.

"My agent told me after the Penguins drafted me that they wouldn't bring me in for the summer because they never do that, so I was surprised when they called," said defenseman Paul Bissonnette, the fourth-round pick in June. "I was happy they did. I think it shows they're taking a step forward and raise the expectations of all of us."

"It's nice they're looking over us," said right winger Daniel Carcillo, the third-rounder in June. "That's what you want as a young player."

Perception often being muddied with reality, the mere notion that the Penguins' prospects feel they matter represents a 180-degree departure from the past. This is a franchise which for so long has been so top-heavy in talent that rookies were treated as interlopers.

Now, it is becoming increasingly evident, they are the show.

Icy chips

The prospects' orientation ended yesterday with a talk from equipment manager Steve Latin and a visit to Patrick's house.

The hit of the weekend for the players? Fireworks at the Pirates' game Friday. They should fit right in.

In the Post-Gazette's Tuesday article about Ryan Malone signing with the Penguins, two players were mentioned as being born in Pittsburgh and reaching the NHL: Gerry O'Flaherty (1971-79) and Bob Beers (1989-97). A reader called the office to correctly add a third: Left winger Pete Babando was born in Braeburn, close to New Kensington, and left at a young age before going on to play for the Bruins, Red Wings, Black Hawks and Rangers in 1947-53. He scored the Cup-winning goal for Detroit in 1950. Any further leads on the subject are welcome.

Stephen Dixon, point-a-game center for Fleury's Cape Breton team in the QMJHL and the Penguins' seventh-rounder in June, expressed confidence that Fleury can handle an immediate leap to the NHL: "He's not the type to put too much pressure on himself. He always has a smile on his face. A guy like him can adapt to anything."

When Olczyk and his staff design the Penguins' system by early August, expect it to vary little from than the Wild's aggressive version of the neutral-zone trap. Olczyk's thinking is that his team, like Minnesota, can best use its speed by employing a mind-set of attacking in all three zones.

Do not rule out Phil Bourque for the Penguins' vacancy at radio color commentator, though Rob Brown is the best bet for the job.

When the Penguins someday sign defenseman Ryan Whitney, their top pick in 2002 -- not likely until next summer -- they now know what it will cost. The Flyers this week signed defenseman Joni Pitkanen, the player taken before Whitney, to a three-year deal worth $11.36 million in attainable bonuses.

Jim Paek, defenseman on both of the Penguins' Cup teams, is the new coach of the Orlando Seals in WHA2, a developmental league.

Matt Bradley, who did not play for the Penguins after being acquired March 11 from the Sharks because of a broken wrist, had his cast removed last week and will begin shooting in mid-August. "No way I won't be ready for the start of training camp," he said.

Only 53 days to Southpointe.