Empty Netter Assists - 06-22-10

Written by Seth Rorabaugh on Tuesday, 22 June 2010 4:55 am.

Penguins

-The Penguins will face a bunch of vagrants in the first regular season at Consol Energy Center.

-Sidney Crosby is a big fan of new Lightning coach Guy Boucher.

-The NHL will unveil its complete regular season schedule today. The Penguins will definitely play in Dallas and Nashville next season.

-The 2010 class for induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame will be announced day. Former Penguins forward John LeClair is among the players in their first year of eligiblity.

-Former Penguins forward Connor James has joined the DEG Metro Stars in Germany. How you do say "the obligatory smashing of Connor James" in German?

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-Happy 43rd birthday to former Penguins defenseman Paul Stanton (right). An eighth-round pick in 1985, Stanton spent three seasons with the Penguins. He made his NHL debut in 1990-91 and appeared in 75 games while scoring 23 points. He appeared in 22 playoff games that season and contributed three points as the Penguins won their first Stanley Cup title. In 1991-92, Stanton was limited to 54 games and 10 points, but appeared in all 21 of the team's postseason games and eight points as the franchise successfully defended its Stanley Cup title. Stanton rebounded during the team's historic 1992-93 campaign by playing in 77 games for the Presidents' Trophy champions and scoring 16 points. In the 1993 offseason, Stanton was traded to the Bruins in exchange for a draft pick. In 206 games with the Penguins, Stanton recorded 49 points.

-Happy 49th birthday to former Penguins forward Steve Gatzos. A second-round pick in 1981, Gatzos spent parts of four seasons with the Penguins. As a rookie, Gatzos scored 14 points in 16 games in 1981-82. Gatzos appeared in 44 games in 1982-83 but only scored 13 points. Gatzos totals continued to fall in 1983-84 as he only played in 23 games and recorded six points. In his final NHL season, Gatzos appreared in six games and recorded two assists in 1985-86. The following offseason, Gatzos joined the Tilburg Trappers in Holland. In 89 games with the Penguins Gatzos scored 35 points.

Atlantic Division

-Despite his impressive season, the Flyers don't seem overly eager to re-sign unrestricted free agent goaltender Michael Leighton.

Northeast Division

-Senators general manager Bryan Murray said he's open to the possibility of trading Jason Spezza.

-The Bruins will spent part of next season's training camp in Northern Ireland and the Czech Republic.

Southeast Division

-The Capitals are negotiating with unrestricted free agent forward Tomas Fleischmann.

-Boca Raton native Andrew Yogan, a Panthers fan growing up, could become the first Florida-born and raised native selected in the NHL Draft.

Central Division

-As suspected, Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews (right) will grace the cover of EA Sports' NHL 11 next season.

Northwest Division

-The Wild acquired forward Brad Staubitz from the Sharks in exchange for a fifth-round pick in this weekend's draft.

-Does the acquisition of a tough guy like Staubitz mean the end of goon Derek Boogaard's days in Minnesota?

-Canucks defenseman Willie Mitchell claims he is symptom-free from the concussion he suffered in January. He was injured on a hit into the boards by Evgeni Malkin.

-Oilers goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin will face a jury trial for impaired driving charges.

-No matter how bad your team's draft is this year, it will never top the Oilers 1990 draft in terms of futility. Edmonton drafted 11 players. None of them ever played in the NHL.