Morning Pens Buzz: Doan speaks; Rep for Malkin, Gonchar exploring Europe options as package deal; Entire medical team ousted

(*Our thoughts and prayers here at Inside Pittsburgh Sports.com go out to the victims of the terrible tragedy in Aurora, Colorado that reportedly left 12 dead and 38 wounded at a movie theater*)

Coveted winger Shane Doan is in New York this week for the CBA meetings and while Doan made it known again to reporters that he is still waiting on the Phoenix Coyotes to see what happens, he indicated what his agent said a few days ago in that there’s been little to no information coming from Greg Jamison on where things stand and that “no one really has any idea” of what’s really going on.

“The hardest thing is that no one really has any idea. It just keeps getting pushed further down the road, ” Doan told reporters of the situation.

Doan admitted that a few teams have emerged that he is serious about. “I’ve got a few teams that you look at and that you’re serious about. That being said, I’ve also talked with some teams that I didn’t think I was, but that kind of made their case, ” Doan said. “When it comes down to it, I’ll really make my decision. I don’t want to put anybody in a situation where you feel like, you know, if you impress me, I’ll come,” he said. “Until I make my decision, I don’t want to force anyone’s hand.”

Indications are the Penguins are willing to wait it out for Doan as the team is said to feel that they have a legitimate shot at Doan if things break down with Phoenix.

No surprise here by Penguins star center Evgeni Malkin is exploring Europe, KHL options for next season in case there is a lockout, Dmitry Chesnokov reported yesterday. Malkin and his best friend Sergei Gonchar hold the same Russian and North American agents and the two are looking to play with the same team, if they decide to play overseas. It is likely that both would end up in the KHL. I’m sure the Penguins hope Malkin doesn’t play during the lockout but there’s nothing in his contract to prevent him from playing, an NHL source with direct knowledge of the language in Malkin’s contract told me on Thursday. However, it’s not a guarantee that Malkin will play I was also told.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have fired team physician Chip Burke and the rest of their medical staff, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Thursday night.

Burke was in charge of Sidney Crosby’s concussion treatment and worked as the Penguins’ head physician since 1988.

Burke told the Tribune-Review he was fired July 10 at the Penguins’ prospect camp, which was the second day of camp.

The Penguins are working with University of Pittsburgh Medical Center on a proposed move to a new facility in Cranberry, Pa., the newspaper reported, citing anonymous sources. UPMC officials will assume care of the team next year and at least one physican will travel with the team on a daily basis.

Speculation is rampant that Sidney Crosby and his people played a big part in this decision and it’s likely they did, but Burke and his staff made enough gaffe’s over the past couple seasons that whether Crosby really played a factor or not, it was time to move in another direction.