Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: By keeping a couple of wingers Monday, the Penguins left themselves not much of a prayer to retain a trio of key contributors to their Stanley Cup championship squad.
After re-signing veteran wingers Bill Guerin and Craig Adams, Penguins general manager Ray Shero has today to secure the services of other notable players eligible to become unrestricted free agents Wednesday — specifically winger Ruslan Fedotenko and shutdown defense paring Rob Scuderi and Hal Gill.
That won't be easy and might prove impossible.

Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune: GM Chuck Fletcher also is expected to make an overture to skilled winger Ruslan Fedotenko, who has won Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Shero had been braced for Scuderi's departure and expects to learn today if winger Ruslan Fedotenko will follow him. The Penguins hope Fedotenko will return, but he has drawn interest from a number of teams and might sign elsewhere.
«I'm not [optimistic or pessimistic]," Shero said. «He's going to talk it over with his wife and let us know.»
While the Penguins don't know yet if they'll have to find a top-six forward to replace Fedotenko, Scuderi's departure means they will be in the market for at least one NHL-caliber defenseman.

Pittsburgh Penguins:

Pittsburgh Penguins Agree to Terms with Forward Ruslan Fedotenko

The Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins have agreed to terms with forward Ruslan Fedotenko to a one-year contract through the 2009-2010 season, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Ray Shero.
Fedotenko, 30, scored 39 points (16 goals, 23 assists) and ranked second on the team with a plus-18 rating in 65 games with the Penguins this season. It marked the seventh time that he recorded 30-plus points in a single season. He appeared in 24 games for Pittsburgh during the post-season, recording seven goals and 14 points.
The 6-2, 195-pound winger has played parts of eight seasons with Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and Philadelphia from 2000- 2009. Fedotenko won his first Stanley Cup in 2004 with the Tampa Bay Lightning, scoring both goals in a 2-0 victory over the Calgary Flames in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. The two-time Stanley Cup Champion has collected 278 points (139 goals, 139 assists) along with 369 penalty minutes in 597 career games in the NHL. He has tallied 31 points (20 goals, 11 assists) in 77 post-season contests.
The native of Kiev, Ukraine became the first Ukrainian-born player to win the Stanley Cup in 2004. He appeared in one game for the Ukraine at the 2006 Olympics, scoring one goal against Switzerland.
Fedotenko was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by Philadelphia in 1999 and made his NHL debut Oct. 24, 2000 with the Flyers. He was signed by Pittsburgh as a free agent on July 3, 2008.

On July 19, 2004, after winning the championship with Tampa Bay, Ruslan took the Stanley Cup home to Kiev. This time, on August 17, some five years later, he shook things up and celebrated his Stanley Cup accomplishment in Wisconsin.

Ruslan's wife Debbie and her children Kyle, Derek and Larkin, are from Door County in Wisconsin, and when Ruslan and Debbie were married eight years ago, it was there in Wisconsin, where they purchased property in the Sister Bay area.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins: Penguins fans will get a rare treat, when Pittsburgh Penguins superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin line up on opposite sides of the puck during the Penguins Black and Gold Game, scheduled for Thursday, September 17 at the Wachovia Arena.

Pittsburgh captain Crosby will be joined by fellow stars Sergei Gonchar, Jordan Staal, and Kris Letang on the black squad, while Malkin, Bill Guerin, Ruslan Fedotenko and Marc-Andre Fleury will don the home colors. Full rosters will be released closer to game time.

Tickets for the Black and Gold Game are sold out, however a few seats have been reserved for fans purchasing packages starting as low as five games. Call the Penguins at (570) 208-7367 for more information on how to be a part of this once in a lifetime opportunity.

All proceeds from the game will go to the Penguins/United Way Charity Fund.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Tyler Kennedy is getting the first audition for the job as Evgeni Malkin's right winger.
Kennedy practiced alongside Malkin and Ruslan Fedotenko —- a spot filled during the Penguins' Stanley Cup drive this spring by Max Talbot, who is recovering from shoulder surgery —- during the first day of training-camp drills at Mellon Arena today.
Although there have been times in the past when Kennedy seemed uneasy in such a prominent role, coach Dan Bylsma believes that has changed.
"[Kennedy] is getting older, has more experience, feels a little more comfortable playing with those guys," Bylsma said. «He's going to have some time in training camp with them, in practices and in exhibition games, to see if that will blend into something that will work on the ice.»
Kennedy teamed with Jordan Staal and Matt Cooke on a highly effective third line last season, but seemed to enjoy being used with Malkin and Fedotenko. Not that he's assuming the move will be permanent.
«I'm just trying to take it day-by-day, worry about myself and worry about playing well," Kennedy said. «If I play there, I play there. If I don't, I don't.»

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Uniform typo

Yes, it really is the preseason for everyone.
Fedotenko's name was spelled "Fedetenko" on the back of his practice sweater the first day.
He should have one with the correct spelling Monday, and team officials said the error was made by an outside firm, not someone inside the organization

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Turns out Penguins center Evgeni Malkin's wingers aren't cursed, though that possibility was not without merit for awhile Saturday night.
However, left wing Ruslan Fedotenko returned to start the second period against the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum after leaving the first period favoring his right arm.
Fedotenko was jolted by a clean hit from Islanders defenseman Brendan Witt at 11:34 of the opening period. After receiving a pass from Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, Fedotenko skated through the neutral zone and was turned into by Witt just before he entered the offensive zone. Fedotenko quickly sprung to his skates, but he immediately headed for the Penguins' bench and soon after the training room.
«The hit was, you know, a tough hit to take," Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma said. «He was able to come back with no side effects.»
Actually, Fedotenko returned to score a late tying goal in the third period for the Penguins, who won in a shootout, 4-3.
Teammates quickly came to Fedotenko's defense after the hit by Witt. Words were exchanged by players from both teams and Witt fought Penguins defenseman Jay McKee. Witt and McKee each received fighting major penalties, and McKee was issued a minor for instigating and a 10-minute misconduct. Also during the scrum, Malkin was penalized for interference to put the Penguins down two players on an ensuing Islanders' power play, upon which New York defenseman Mark Streit tallied to tie the score, 1-1.
Fedotenko has been the regular left wing on a line centered by Malkin since the middle of last season. They were joined by right wing Max Talbot in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Talbot is out until at least November while recovering from offseason surgery to his left shoulder.

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Penguins forward Ruslan Fedotenko did not participate in practice at Mellon Arena on Monday, two days after receiving a crunching hit from Islanders defenseman Brendan Witt. Fedotenko missed a portion of Saturday's game on Long Island but returned in time to score the game-tying goal. He is not expected to miss any playing time.

On the second unit, winger Ruslan Fedotenko practiced on the left point, across from Eaton. He joked that other than needing to hone his skills skating backward he can make the adjustment.
«If we have some injuries and I need to fill in there, I will be there," he said. «If not, it's not a big deal and I'll play in the regular spot [at forward].»