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Penguins expected to secure Palffy today
Dave Mackall can be reached via e-mail or at 412-380-5617.
The veteran right wing, who has agreed to the terms of a three-year, $13.5 million contract with the Penguins, played in 41 games for Slavia Praha in the Czech Republic, scoring 21 goals and finishing with 40 points.
He also scored 10 goals in eight games for Skalica HK 36, a Slovakian-based team.
In 2003-04, the year before the lockout, Palffy totaled 41 points in 35 games for the Los Angeles Kings before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.
Palffy, 33, a three-time NHL all-star and a six-time 30-goal scorer who has netted 318 goals in 11 NHL regular seasons with two clubs, agreed to terms with the Penguins on Saturday. Although the club had no comment Sunday, it was expected today to officially announce the signing.
It marks the third unrestricted free agent in a span of one week to join the Penguins, who have upgraded their roster by adding Palffy, defenseman Sergei Gonchar and left wing Andre Roy.
The Penguins also are expected to add a center, perhaps Jozef Stumpel, who like Palffy last played for the Los Angeles Kings in 2003-04; another defenseman; and a goalie, possibly Curtis Joseph or Sean Burke, before the season begins.
Meanwhile, the countdown has begun for the arrival of No. 1 pick Sidney Crosby and five other Penguins prospects, who will attend the team's orientation camp beginning on Wednesday.
It will be the first trip to Pittsburgh for Crosby, the teenage phenom from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, who was chosen first by the Penguins in the NHL entry draft on July 30. Crosby, who turned 18 yesterday, played last season for Rimouski Oceanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He is a two-time Canadian Hockey League player of the year.
The prospects will meet with Penguins coaches and undergo medical exams and fitness testing and at UPMC South Side.
In addition to Crosby, others scheduled to attend the orientation are centers Ryan Stone and Jordan Morrison and defensemen Noah Welch, Ryan Lannon and Jean-Philippe Paquet.
