Empty Netter Assists - 07-21-10
Penguins
-How exactly will this new Ice Crew work for the Penguins?
-Happy 42nd birthday to former Penguins defenseman Lyle Odelein (right). Infamous for his rivalry with former Penguins antagonist Matthew Barnaby - Baranaby said he looked like Cornelius from "Panet of the Apes" while Odelein simply said Baranaby had an ugly wife - Odelein's Penguins career amounted to 27 games and one assist in 2005-06. Odelein, apparently an MVP by Upper Deck's questionable standards, had knee surgery in February 2006 and was not re-signed in the offseason.
-Best quote from that Odelein-Barnaby story: "He should take a look at his wife. She's god-awful to look at."
Atlantic Division
-Hopefully you haven't pre-ordered those Ilya Kovalchuk (right) jerseys already...
-"But there is nothing we have done wrong. This is within the rules. This is the CBA. There are precedents that have been set, but I would agree that we shouldn't have these." - Devils overlord Lou Lamoriello on long multi-year contracts prior to the rejection of the Kovalchuk deal.
-Lamoriello made a point to let it be known owner Jeff Vanderbeek really pushed to re-sign Kovalchuk.
-"If it was about money, I'd have taken the deal in Atlanta." - Kovalchuk on the 10-year, $101 million deal he turned down from the Thrashers.
-Kovalchuk said goaltender Martin Brodeur was still the face of the Devils.
Northeast Division
-Former Penguins forward Randy Cunneyworth (right) was hired as the head coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs, the Canadiens' AHL affiliate.
Southeast Division
-The Hurricanes re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Brett Carson to a one-year, two-way contract.
-The Lightning hired Daniel Lacroix and Martin Raymond as assistant coaches.
-Because we truly value legit NHL news from newspapers in non-traditional NHL markets, we ask you to follow the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Chris Vivlamore on Twitter (@ajcthrashers).
Central Division
-The Red Wings' courtship of unrestricted free agent forward Mike Modano is holding up their ability to re-sign restricted free agents Justin Abdelkader and Darren Helm (right).
Northwest Division
-The Flames re-signed restricted free agent forward Brett Sutter to a one-year, two-way contract.
-Calgary signed unrestricted free agent forward Stefan Meyer, formerly of the Panthers, to a two-year contract. Financial terms were not released.
-The Manitoba Moose, the Canucks' AHL affiliate, have opted not to re-sign long-time captain Mike Keane. Keane, 43, is a former member of the Canadiens, Avalanche, Ranger, Stars, Blues and Canucks. He has spent the past five seasons with Manitoba.
Pacific Division
-The Ducks signed unrestricted free agent defenseman Dany Syvret, formerly of the Flyers, to a one-year, two-way contract.
-Coyotes enforcer and former Penguins forward Paul Bissonnette (right) made a somewhat rambling but refreshingly frank appearance on TSN's "Off the Record" along with Wild forward Cal Clutterbuck.
(Photos: Odelein and Cunneyworth-Penguins Hockey Cards; Kovalchuk and Bissonnett-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images; Helm-Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)