PITTSBURGH -- A Pittsburgh radio station reported Monday that player-owner Mario Lemieux will return to the ice for the Penguins this season despite his hints to the contrary at the end of last season.

	Lemieux

ESPN Radio 1250 added that ice time has been booked in August for Lemieux's pre-camp training and that an announcement of the superstar's intentions is expected by Friday.

The day before, goaltender Johan Hedberg hinted at the same thing, saying he left a recent round of golf with Lemieux with the impression that Lemieux would play another season.

Lemieux hinted strongly at the end of the season in April that he wouldn't play again as the Penguins rebuild with younger players.

"Everything Mario said seemed to point to that he will play next season," Hedberg told the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet. "We talked about next season. The way I understood it, he will play one more season. It'll be really fun if he makes that choice. Then, we get a superstar who can win any given game."

Hedberg recently returned home to Sweden to spend some time there before training camp starts in September.

Penguins president Ken Sawyer said last week that he has no idea whether Lemieux will play another season. However, team officials have said the longer Lemieux waits to make a decision, the more optimistic they are that Lemieux will keep playing.

Staying in the lineup also might improve Lemieux's chances of landing a new arena deal for the Penguins, who are trying to line up financing for a building to replace 42-year-old Mellon Arena.

Lemieux's return also would be a plus for new coach Eddie Olczyk, who has no coaching experience at any organized level of hockey.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.