TIMES STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Potsdam native Craig Conroy's paycheck may be smaller this season, but he was willing to take a cut to remain a member of the National Hockey League's Calgary Flames.

The former Clarkson University standout, now 36, re-signed with the Flames on Friday for two more seasons. The Calgary Herald reported that his annual contract went from about $3 million a season to a little over $1 million.

"You know what agents are like," Conroy told the Herald. "They're (saying) 'I know you can get more,' but I said, 'You know what? If this is what they can do, then I'm happy with it.' That's fine. Maybe if you wait and see you can get a little more on the open market. But where I am right now and what I want to do, I just don't want to go anywhere (else).

"I just love the city and I love playing in Calgary and I wanted to be a part of it for a couple more years. Maybe I could have gotten more money on July 1st, and maybe I couldn't. I don't know. I left the one time (he left the Flames in 2004 to sign with the Kings). I took the money, and I was lucky enough to be able to come back. I remember the fans welcomed me back that first game. That's what it's all about. Calgary just seems like a good fit for me."

Conroy has had his best seasons in the NHL with the Flames, including taking part in the Stanley Cup finals with the organization in 2004.

He was with the team from 2000-04 then signed with the Los Angeles Kings, where he spent nearly two seasons before being traded back to Calgary during the 2006-07 season.

Conroy played in 79 games last year and scored 12 goals with 22 assists. In 846 career games, he has 165 goals and 312 assists for 477 career points.

He's also played for the Montreal Canadiens and St. Louis Blues.

LIGHTNING EYES MALONE, ROBERTS

The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired the short-term negotiating rights to Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts on Saturday for a conditional draft pick.

The deal allows the Lightning to talk exclusively to Malone and Roberts until the NHL free agency signing period begins Tuesday.

The Penguins didn't feel they could afford to re-sign either Malone, a Pittsburgh native who had 27 goals and 24 assists last season, or the 42-year-old Roberts, who made $2.5 million last season. Malone is believed to be seeking about $5 million per season.

Roberts was added late in the 2006-07 season to give the Penguins a more physical presence and a locker-room leader, but he missed more than half of last season with a broken left leg and a high ankle sprain.

Pittsburgh is focusing its attention on other key components of its Stanley Cup finalist team, including forward Marian Hossa — who wants to test free agency — and defenseman Brooks Orpik. The Penguins have 12 prospective unrestricted free agents.

The Penguins are expected to receive a fourth-round draft pick unless Malone signs with Tampa Bay. Pittsburgh would then receive a third-round pick. Tampa Bay acquired the fourth-round pick from Dallas in the Brad Richards trade.

CARTER STICKS WITH FLYERS

Jeff Carter didn't want to leave, and the Flyers wanted him to stay, so on Friday the club signed the center to a three-year contract worth a reported $15 million.

Carter would have become a restricted free agent on Tuesday.

"We've kind of had this in place, for the most part, for a while," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said. "It just made sense to do it now. Jeff knows we wanted him back, and he knows he wanted to be back.

"Jeff is a terrific young player who has come up through our organization, and we believe that he is only going to get better," Holmgren said. "It is a priority for us to keep our core of young players intact, and signing Jeff allows us to do that."

Carter, 23, recorded 29 goals and 24 assists for 53 points with 55 penalty minutes in 82 games for the Flyers last season.