PITTSBURGH - The Penguins aren't for sale, even though they are trying to sell a proposed site for their new arena and have nearly doubled Mario Lemieux's salary, Lemieux and other team officials said Thursday.
The club is seeking offers for a vacant hospital across from Mellon Arena because retaining it is proving expensive, not because the franchise has given up hope of landing a new arena, Lemieux said. He also denied that the slow pace of arena negotiations and the team's ongoing financial losses have convinced him to sell the Penguins. He has said repeatedly that the team he purchased in federal bankruptcy court in 1999 would be sold only if it became certain an arena wouldn't be built.
"The team is not for sale. When the team is for sale, I will let everybody know publicly, myself," Lemieux said. HEATLEY TRANSFERRED: The Thrashers' Dany Heatley was transferred from Atlanta's Grady Hospital to St. Joseph's Hospital, where his condition was listed as stable. Heatley was the driver in a one-car accident Monday that left teammate Dan Snyder unconscious and in critical condition. HURRICANES: Carolina sent forward Ryan Bayda to the minor leagues, reducing its roster to 24. Jesse Boulerice injured his back in an off-ice workout and will miss the final two preseason games. MAPLE LEAFS: Defenseman Bryan McCabe is scheduled for arthroscopic surgery to repair an undisclosed injury in his knee. No specifics, including which knee is injured, were released by the team. McCabe was hurt while training in August, and an MRI exam on Thursday revealed the injury that's expected to sideline him 3-6 weeks.
Thursday's games
BRUINS 3, RED WINGS 2: Mike Knuble scored twice and Andrew Raycroft had 34 saves for Boston in Worcester, Mass. BLACKHAWKS 3, SABRES 2 (OT): Eric Daze scored at 3:39 of overtime to lift Chicago in Rochester, N.Y. Tyler Arnason and Pavel Vorobiev also had goals for the Blackhawks. A Curtis Brown power-play goal in the scored period forced the OT for Buffalo.
ISLANDERS 4, FLYERS 2: Mariusz Czerkawski scored twice to lead New York in Hershey, Pa.
AVALANCHE 4, STARS 2: Andrei Nikolishin's tiebreaking goal late in the second period gave Colorado the victory in Dallas.
OILERS 7, FLAMES 4: Ales Hemsky had a goal and three assists, and Jason Chimera and Raffi Torres each scored twice to spark host Edmonton.
