PITTSBURGH -- Penguins owner and star Mario Lemieux has repeatedly said he wants to play most of his team's games this season. His coach and general manager seem to think that number is 70.

	Lemieux

Lemieux, who turns 37 on Oct. 5, is attempting a comeback after missing most of last season because of a hip injury. The Penguins open training camp Thursday.

"Based on the way he feels and the drive in his eye, he'll give it a good shot to play as many as 82 games," Penguins general manager Craig Patrick said Monday. "I don't think he'll play 82, but 70 is certainly not out of the question."

Coach Rick Kehoe agreed. He wants to keep Lemieux out of the team's intra-squad scrimmage tournament, which runs Sept. 15-18. Lemieux's preseason schedule hasn't been determined, although it's highly doubtful he'll play in any of the Penguins' five road games.

He injured his hip Sept. 22, 2001, in a preseason game at Wilkes-Barre and played just 24 games in the regular season.

Lemieux has been skating the past three weeks under the supervision of ex-teammate-turned-trainer Jay Caufield and has reported no pain in his workouts. He appears to be trim and fit.