PITTSBURGH, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- The cash-strapped Pittsburgh Penguins, unwilling to pay a $3 million bonus, returned rookie goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to his junior team Thursday.
The top overall pick in last year's draft, Fleury would have made an additional $3 million if he played at least 20 minutes in 25 NHL games. Tuesday's 6-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning was Fleury's 21st game, although he has logged 20 minutes in just 19 of them.
Fleury, 19, spent two weeks with Team Canada at the World Junior Championships, where he surrendered a two-goal lead in the third period and lost the gold medal game to the United States, 4-3.
The Penguins traded up to select Fleury with the top pick last June after he starred at last year's World Junior tournament.
