Life can get awfully dull for hockey players during the lockout, particularly when you're not playing overseas. Not to mention the budget can start to become tight for some players who aren't getting the paychecks they're used to.

LA Kings forward and pancake afficionado Dustin Penner seems to have the solution for that thanks to an old nemesis. Penner has begun spending his extended summer vacation by interning for the Conan O'Brien Show. He made his big appearance on Monday night.

I don't know about you, but it kind of seems like Penner has been pigeon-holed here. Good luck with that upward mobility in that role, Dustin.

The pairing didn't always seem to be a fit between Penner and O'Brien. You might recall this past summer after the Kings won the Stanley Cup, Conan sent out a chirp at the NHL and the Kings, to which Penner responded in equally cutting fashion.

Apparently that was nothing a little job offer during a work stoppage couldn't mend.

Really, it seems to be a great fit for Penner to get involved with comedy. He is one of the more affable players in the NHL and never shied away from his infamous pancake incident, actually taking it and running with it.

Maybe they can try and start a company hockey team so Penner can get some ice time as their intern ringer.

H/t to Puck Daddy

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