Penguins Can’t Discuss Move

A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge ruled that the owners of the Pittsburgh Penguins cannot talk to other cities about a move for 45 days.

Depositions revealed that owner Roger Marino and team development director William Craig have talked to nine cities about a move, including Cleveland, Houston and Las Vegas.

Pittsburgh Auditorium Authority attorney Samuel Braver said that the deal the team reached with Pittsburgh officials last year doesn’t allow the team to even investigate a move.

Also, the Penguins have lined up a $20-million line of credit with a French bank, but a judge still must approve the deal. The team said Saturday that Societe Generale will make the loan to cover the Penguins’ obligations for the rest of the season.

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Reid Simpson of the Chicago Blackhawks was suspended for two games without pay by the NHL and fined $1,000 for hitting a fan with a plastic water bottle at Chicago on Thursday. . . . Tampa Bay left wing Andrei Nazarov was suspended by the NHL, pending a hearing Wednesday, for cross-checking Colorado defenseman Cam Russell on Friday. . . . The Blackhawks acquired 25-year-old defenseman Bryan Muir from New Jersey for future considerations.