Empty Netter Assists - 08-03-10
Penguins
-The Capitals released a .pdf of the seating chart at Heinz Field for their season ticket holders:
-They also released an FAQ .pdf.
-As was pretty much speculated per his entry into politics the other day, former Penguins/Canadiens/Coyotes/Oilers enforcer Georges Laraque (right) has retired as an NHL player. In 695 games, Laraque had 53 goals, 100 assists, 153 points and 1,126 career penalty minutes. With the Penguins, Laraque appeared in 88 games, scored 15 points and recorded 159 penalty minutes.
"I have retired. Since last year when I developed two herniated discs, I never felt 100 per cent recovered from my back injury. It would be dangerous for me to play, since I decided to undergo an operation. I do not want to take a change and be paralyzed.” -Laraque.
-Former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguin Tyler Spurgeon has joined Klagenfurter AC in Austria.
-Happy 30th birthday to former Penguins forward Dominic Moore. Acquired from the Predators along with Libor Pivko in exchange for a draft pick in the 2006 offseason, Moore spent part of one season with the Penguins in 2006-07. In 59 games, he contributed 15 points. At the trade deadline, he was dealt to the Wild in exchange for a draft pick. After splitting last season between Florida and Montreal, Moore signed as a free agent with the Lightning last month.
-Happy 30th birthday to former Penguins defenseman Jordan Leopold (right). Acquired just prior to last season's trade deadline in a deal which sent a draft pick to Florida, Leopold appeared in 20 regular season games for the Penguins and contributed eight points, including two short-handed goals. In the postseason, Leopold appeared in eight games and failed to record a point. Last month, he joined the Sabres as an unrestricted free agent. Leopold is one of four former Hobey Baker Award winners who have played for the Penguins. The others are Brian Bonin, Brian Holzinger and Kip Miller.
{youtube width="480" height="295"}7XmoWWL3P18{/youtube}
Atlantic Division
-The Rangers acquired forward Todd White from the Thrashers in exchange for forwards Donald Brashear and Patrick Rissmiller.
-A hearing to determine the fate of unrestricted free agent forward Ilya Kovalchuk's disputed 17-year contract with the Devils will begin Wednesday in Boston.
Northeast Division
-The Sabres signed unrestricted free agent defenseman Shaone Morrisonn, formerly of the Capitals, to a two-year deal for an undisclosed amount.
-Four days after he was awarded $1 million in arbitration, the Sabres waived forward Tim Kennedy (right).
-"It hurts. This is not what I envisioned for the last month of the summer before the season started. It's tough. I hope this isn't the end, but it doesn't look too good right now. You grow up watching this team your whole life. I don't even know what to say right now because I'm so shocked." - Kennedy, a native of South Buffalo.
Southeast Division
-Panthers forward David Booth has yet to skate since suffering his second concussion of last season March 25.
-The Thrashers placed forward Donald Brashear on waivers with the intent of buying him out.
-Capitals owner Ted Leonsis claims President Barack Obama planned on attending a Capitals playoff game this spring after they advanced past first round. Unfortunately for the Capitals, Mike Green plays defense like this:
{youtube width="480" height="295"}7F7GQR2mZzw{/youtube}
Central Division
-The Blackhawks made two stunning moves yesterday when they opted to walk away from the $2.75 million awarded in arbitration to restricted free agent goaltender Antti Niemi (and made him an unrestricted free agent in the process) and instead opted to sign unrestricted free agent goaltender Marty Turco, formerly of the Stars, to a one-year, $1.3 million contract.
-Niemi is the 10th member of last season's Stanley Cup championship team to be cut loose.
-The Blues re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Erik Johnson (right) to a two-year contract worth a total of $5.2 million. The first overall pick in the 2006 draft (Jordan Staal was No. 2), Johnson will have a salary cap hit of $2.6 million.
-According to the Detroit Free Press, unrestricted free agent forward Mike Modano, formerly of the Stars, is expected to sign with the Red Wings.
Pacific Division
-There are apparently experts in Anaheim. Unrestricted free agent defenseman Andy Sutton, formerly of the Senators, signed a two-year deal worth $4.25 million with the Ducks. We're no experts, but he will have a salary cap hit of $2.125 million.
Adams Division
-Former Canadiens/Flyers/Bruins/Blues/Thrashers/Capitals/Lightning forward Glen Metropolit has joined EV Zug in Switzerland.
-Former Blues/Canucks/Lightning/Mighty Ducks defenseman Adrien Plavsic has come out of retirement to join the EHC Basel Sharks in Germany.
(Photos: Laraque-Dave Sandford/Getty Images; Leopold-Justin K. Aller/Getty Images; Kennedy-Rick Stewart/Getty Images; Johnson-Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)