We bet Aleksey Morozov has "Night Fever" on his iPod
We guarantee you this is the best video of former Penguins forward Aleksey Morozov introducing Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees at a Russian music awards show you'll see all day:
[View:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRCvVehUgf0]
Morozov, along with Thrashers forward Ilya Kovalchuk and Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin was on hand at the Muz-TV Awards show to present Gibb with an award that apparently combined the virtues of Russians capable of 50-goal seasons and iconic disco tunes.
(Kudos to Greg Wyshynski for the find.)
BLOODY BUCHBERGER BACK IN THE NHL
The Oilers named former goon Kelly Buchberger an assistant coach. He served as coach of the Springfield Falcons, Edmonton's AHL affiliate, last season.
One of the few highlights of the Penguins wretched 2003-04 season was Buchberger who was one of the Penguins "big" free agent signings that season. It wasn't so much for anything Buchberger did himself but more for things he had done to him. Mostly, how he got the tar beat out of him on most nights as the Penguins' enforcer/punching bag that season. Unofficially he went 2-11-2 that season according to Hockeyfights.com.
One of Buchberger's beat downs came at the hands of Detroit's Darren McCarty that season:
[View:http://youtube.com/watch?v=C045Kkiku_Y]
EMPTY NETTER ASSISTS
Penguins
-Brooks Orpik's brother Andrew Orpik, a Sabres prospect, hinted that his brother could be interested in signing with Buffalo.
-Do you want Marian Hossa to stay in Pittsburgh? Check out Please Stay Hossa.
-Gary Roberts is really cutting his ties to the Pittsburgh area. Not only is he leaving the Penguins, but apparently he's had this side gig as a bank president in Hermitage all this time and he's quitting that too.
No word yet if Roberts plan on giving up on his nursery:
(Kudos to EN Reader Julie Pacheo who spotted this near Vero Beach, Fla.)
-Faceoff-Factor scored an interview with Penguins draft pick Nick D'Agostino.
Atlantic Division
-The Devils extended qualifying offers to forwards David Clarkson, Rod Pelley, Petr Vrana, Ivan Khomutov and defenseman Olli Malmivaara.
-The Islanders extended qualifying offers to forwards Sean Bergenheim, Jeremy Colliton, Frans Nielsen, Jeff Tambellini, Ben Walter along and defenseman Bruno Gervais.
-Rangers third-round draft pick Evgeny Grachev says he wants to be like Evgeni Malkin.
Northeast Division
-The Canadiens extended qualifying offers to forwards forwards Mikhail Grabovski, Andrei Kostitsyn and Corey Locke, defencemen Josh Gorges and Ryan O'Byrne and goaltender Jaroslav Halak.
-The Sabres extended qualifying offers to forwards Steve Bernier, Paul Gaustad, Clarke MacArthur, Mark Mancari and Daniel Paille.
Southeast Division
-The Lightning and forward Vincent Lecavalier are apparently working on a nine-year, $77 million contract extension. That's rougly $8.5 million a year. If Vincent Lecavalier is worth that, what is Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin's value?
-Lightning goaltender Marc Denis cleared waivers and was bought out.
-Tampa Bay hired player agent and former Minnesota North Stars forward Brian Lawton as vice president of hockey operations. Lawton was the first U.S. player selected No. 1 overall in the draft when Minnesota chose him in 1983.
-The Lightning extended qualifying offers to forward Ryan Craig and defensemen Jay Rosehill and Justin Fletcher.
-Let the semi-annual Jozef Stumpel to Pittsburgh rumors begin. The Panthers put the forward on waivers.
-Florida extended qualifying offers to defensemen Jay Bouwmeester, Martin Lojek and forwards Gregory Campbell, Drew Larman, Stefan Meyer, Rostislav Olesz and Anthony Stewart.
-The Panthers might be the most dysfunctional organization in the NHL. An executive with the team actually sent e-mails out to season ticket holders defending the decision to trade captain Olli Jokinen by claiming he played ''with little heart or passion'' and showed "no leadership or improvement." The Panthers' CEO then said the e-mail was unacceptable.
-The Hurricanes tendered qualifying offers to forwards Chad LaRose and defenseman Dennis Seidenberg.
-The rehab of Hurricanes captain Rod Brind'Amour is progressing smoothly.
-Carolina might have some trouble buying out defenseman David Tanabe.
Central Division
-The Predators don't plan on being active with free agents.
Pacific Division
-The Sharks signed forwards Jeremy Roenick, Joe Pavelski and goaltender Brian Boucher.
-The Ducks signed forward Brian Sutherby to a one-year deal. They also extended qualifying offers to forwards Corey Perry, Drew Miller, Geoff Platt, Jason King and former Penguins prospect Stephen Dixon.
-An official with the Ducks wrote on the team's official blog that defenseman Scott Neidermayer will be coming back next season. (Kudos to Eric McErlain with the find.)
-The Senators traded goon Brian McGratton to the Coyotes for a fifth-round pick in the 2009 draft.
-New Coyotes forward Olli Jokinen will make life easy for prospect Kyle Turris.
-The Kings extended qualifying offers to goaltender Erik Ersberg, forwards Gabe Gauthier, Matt Moulson (a former Penguins prospect), Patrick O'Sullivan, Brad Richardson, defensemen Peter Harrold and Joe Piskula.
Northwest Division
-The Canucks claimed former Maple Leafs forward Kyle Wellwood off waivers.
-It doesn't look like forward Andrew Brunette will return to the Avalanche.