PITTSBURGH (AP) - Now that Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux has retired
again, the Pittsburgh Penguins are moving on behind another big star.

General manager Ray Shero and coach Michel Therrien must decide
whether 19-year-old Sidney Crosby - the team's best player and the
face of the franchise - should wear the ``C'' as the team captain at
the Oct. 5 opener against Philadelphia.

Other possible choices include forwards Mark Recchi and John LeClair.
But they are not the big scorers they once were, and both have spent
most of their careers with other teams.

Crosby, making an unannounced appearance Tuesday at the Penguins youth
camp, said he wouldn't turn down the ``C'' but won't campaign for it.

``If one day whoever makes that decision decides they'd like me to
have it, it would be a huge honor,'' said Crosby, designated by
Therrien as an alternate captain immediately after the coach was hired
in December. ``But, at the same time, it's something you have to earn.
That's not something you take lightly. For me it's my second year, so
it's not something you're thinking about. I'm working on improving
myself as a player and a person, and that's all I really worry about.''

Crosby acknowledged he and Recchi had issues before the 17-season
veteran was traded to Stanley Cup champion Carolina. Apparently,
Recchi felt Crosby was too vocal and demonstrative about calls that
didn't go his way, especially for a rookie. The two since have talked,
and Crosby said he welcomes Recchi's return.

Crosby also has closely followed Penguins draft pick Evgeni Malkin's
clandestine departure from his Russian team in Finland and his recent
journey to the United States, where he hopes to join the Penguins for
camp next month.

``It's a pretty amazing story,'' Crosby said. ``What he went through
is pretty unbelievable. He showed a lot of guts to go through that and
come over here. I think everyone is just looking forward to having him
here and making him feel as comfortable as possible.''

Malkin, 20, and Crosby, 19, are expected to give the Penguins a
dynamic and very young combination at center. The two are a combined
39 years old, or nearly Recchi's age; Recchi turns 39 on Feb. 1.

``If we're both at our best and both lines are at their best, we're
going to be tough,'' said Crosby, who has played against Malkin in the
world and world junior championships.

Crosby, who spent the day instructing some players who weren't much
younger than him, was pleased with his rookie season but knows he can
improve. He became the youngest player in NHL history to have a
100-point season and only the second 18-year-old to do so, though it
didn't prevent a fourth consecutive Penguins last-place division finish.

``You never want to gauge a season on your plus-minus and stuff like
that but, being a responsible player out there, you want to be out
there for more goals than against,'' said Crosby, a minus-1 for the
season. ``It's something I want to work on. I'm not a 10-year veteran,
but I want to make sure I'm the leader out there and do my best to
lead by example.''

Captain or not.