Ron Kantowski on how an NHL team might move here, if the desert freezes over

Thursday, March 8, 2007 | 7:15 a.m.

Pittsburgh Penguins? Probably. Kansas City Penguins? Maybe. Las Vegas Penguins? Fuhgeddaboudit.

A brief lunchtime meeting between Pittsburgh Penguins co-owner Ron Burkle and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman had some Las Vegas sports fans lacing up their (rented) skates Wednesday.

But the fact is Ogie Ogilthorpe is more likely to win the Federal League's sportsmanship award before Las Vegas lands the Penguins or any other National Hockey League team.

If the desert freezes over before money for a new arena can be raised, then perhaps Las Vegas would be an option for a displaced hockey team. Otherwise, any NHL franchise looking for a permanent home here would first have to play in a temporary one.

The Penguins say they could play in the Thomas & Mack Center in the interim.

Give them two minutes for misleading the public.

Daren Libonati, who runs the Thomas & Mack, says the arena is no longer capable of hosting hockey, having recently removed its refrigeration system. Forget the Orleans (too small) and the MGM Grand (not interested).

Negotiations between the Penguins and Pennsylvania officials have cooled, fueling speculation the team could be moving to Kansas City, Mo., or Las Vegas.

In this case, Kansas City seems to be a far better bet, with the $276 million Sprint Center there getting ready to open its doors and luxury boxes.

But even Goodman was talking as if the puck won't be stopping here.

"I made it very clear that Las Vegas is not going to be used as a pawn," Goodman said, calling the talk with Penguins reps a "pleasant conversation."

"I don't even know what hockey is."