Penguins claim Robitaille

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Desperate at the center position, the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday claimed Randy Robitaille off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings.

Robitaille, 26, had four goals, three assists and a minus-9 rating in 18 games for the Kings this season, missing 12 contests with a separated shoulder.

He has just 24 goals and 36 assists in 158 NHL games but joins a team decimated by injuries at center.

Superstar Mario Lemieux has played in only 11 games this season, due mostly to a nagging hip injury, and sparkplug Martin Straka appeared in just 11 games before breaking his leg.

Without Lemieux and Straka, the Penguins have been relying on rookies Kris Beech and Toby Petersen to pick up some of the slack, but they have combined for only 10 goals and 19 assists

while posting a minus-13 rating.

Robitaille, a product of Miami University in Ohio, joins his fourth team since breaking into the NHL with Boston during the 1997-98 season. He also has played for Nashville.