HOCKEY Penguins contend for worst

Washington and Chicago also have very disappointing records.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pittsburgh, Washington and Chicago are in a close race for the NHL's worst record and the No. 1 draft pick that comes with it.
Western Hockey League center Kyle Chipchura, Michigan sophomore goaltender Al Montoya and Dynamo Moscow left wing Alexander Ovechkin topped their respective categories in the midseason ranking of eligible players to be drafted this year.
The rankings, conducted by the NHL Central Scouting Service, feature the top 240 skaters and 30 goaltenders in North America and top 160 skaters and 15 goaltenders from Europe.
Chipchura is tops among North American skaters. He had 13 goals and 27 assists in 46 games with Prince Albert.
Montoya helped the United States win its first gold medal in the World Junior championship this month. He was the most outstanding goaltender in the tournament and followed that by being the top-rated North American at his position.
Montoya started 20 of Michigan's first 22 games, going 13-6-1 with a 2.41 goals-against average.
Ovechkin, a member of the gold medal-winning Russian team at last year's World Juniors, is the top-ranked European skater.
Fanning Flames
If Theo Fleury is going to make an NHL comeback, it will only be with the Calgary Flames.
Fleury was suspended last year for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. He has been out since late last season, and this week broke his silence in an interview with the Calgary Sun.
The former Flames standout had less success in subsequent stops in Colorado, New York and Chicago after being traded by Calgary in 1999 after 10-plus seasons. Fleury never scored fewer than 27 goals in any full season with the Flames.
In the following four seasons, he only topped that mark once.
Fleury spent three seasons with the Rangers before signing a two-year, $8.5 million contract with the Blackhawks. He was in his first season with Chicago when he left the NHL.
"If I did come back to play, the Flames would be the only team I'd play for," Fleury told the Sun. "I don't know how the whole thing would have to play out -- if I owe Chicago another year or if I can be reinstated. I'd play for nothing right now. I've never played for the money ever. Money has caused me more problems than I can ever tell you."