IT’S BEEN FUN. EVERY YEAR, I ASSUME IT’S GOING TO BE MY LAST.

offered him a contract and the letter “C” on his jersey, it was assumed there would be no call-ups, no chance to stay in five-star hotels or fly charter like he once had with Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Montreal, Carolina, Calgary and New Jersey. He was there to simply play hockey and mentor the kids, although not necessarily in that order.

“We thought it would be for one year,” said Kostopoulos. “Four years later, we’re still signing one-year contracts because it’s been good for me and good for my family. It’s been fun. Every year, I assume it’s going to be my last. It just gives you an appreciation for the game.”

As an NHLer, Kostopoulos was an energy line forward with limited skill. He was generally good for seven or eight goals and 15 to 20 points per season, but his main job was to finish checks, kill penalties and get into the occasional fight. In the AHL, he has been able to play more of a starring role.

Kostopoulos has led Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in scoring in two of the past four seasons. He finished second the other two years. This season, which has been cut short by injuries, he has 17 points in 25 games. For a player who was a seventhround pick in 1999, it’s impressive considering the Penguins’ farm system is deep with NHL talent.

“Playing with him is so easy,” said Teddy Blueger, a second-round pick of the Penguins. “He’s just so smart. Honestly, he’s probably the best linemate I’ve ever had.”

On a team where leading scorer Daniel Sprong is only nine years older than Kostopoulos’ daughter, the old man hasn’t quite learned to slow down. According to Blueger, he’s still “an animal in the weight room.” And he’s usually the one breaking up the monotony of a bus trip by putting on his headphones and singing at the top of his lungs to whatever’s on his iPod.

“He’s got his headphones on, so I’m not even sure he realizes how loud he is,” said Blueger. “He pretty much just screams it.”

As the Penguins eye their third straight championship, Sullivan called Kostopoulos’ role “invaluable” and said the veteran “brings so much to the team, I can’t say enough about him.” Indeed, he does not have his name on the Stanley Cup, but for a team that has won backto-back championships, he’s played a big part in getting a lot of the names on the Cup to the NHL.

“To see those guys develop and become really good NHL players, I take pride in that,” said Kostopoulos. “We’d all like to hold the Cup, too, but that can’t happen. Still, it’s rewarding. We’re all fans too.”

A year from now, Kostopoulos will be just that. And yet, you get the sense he’s not quite ready to fully close the door. After all, he’s having waytoomuchfun.

“It’s interesting,” he said. “My body feels better the longer the season goes. It feels the worst in training camp when you’re getting back at it. But once you get going, your body seems to catch up and I’ve been feeling better and better.

“It’s almost better not to stop.”