Empty Netter Assist - 09-10-10
Penguins
-How do Arron Asham (above) and Mike Comrie fit into the Penguins' plans?
-Former Penguins forward Richard Park, who spent the past four seasons with the Islanders, officially signed with Geneva-Servette in Switzerland.
-Happy 22nd birthday to current Penguins forward Jordan Staal (right). A first-round pick in 2006 (No. 2 overall), Staal has spent four seasons with the Penguins. As a rookie in 2006-07, Staal appeared in 81 games, set an NHL rookie record with seven shorthanded goals, scored 29 overall goals, 42 points and was selected as a finalist for the Calder Trophy. In the 2007 postseason, Staal appeared in five games and scored three goals. Despite playing in all 82 games in 2007-08, Staal's offensive numbers regressed as he only scored 28 points. In the postseason, he saw action in 20 games, scored seven points and helped the team reach the Stanley Cup final for the first time in 16 years. Staal's production rebounded in 2008-09 as he once again played in all 82 games and scored 22 goals and 49 points. In that spring's playoffs, Staal, playing primarily on a line with Matt Cooke and Tyler Kennedy, saw action in 24 games and scored nine points, including a key shorthanded goal against the Red Wings in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final (see below). Staal helped the team claim the series, 4-3, and got his name on the Cup. Last season, Staal, one of the Penguins' top penalty killers, once again appeared in all 82 games, scored 21 goals, 49 assists and was named a finalist for the Selke Trophy. In the playoffs, Staal played in 11 games and scored five points. In 327 regular season games with the Penguins, Staal has scored 168 points, 44th-most in franchise history. He has appeared in 302 consecutive games since his rookie season. Only Ron Schock (313) has a longer streak in franchise history. In 60 postseason games, "Gronk" has scored 24 points, 21st-most franchise history.
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-Happy 53rd birthday to former Penguins goaltender Rob Holland. Acquired in the 1979 offseason along with Pat Hughes in a deal with sent Denis Herron and a draft pick to the Canadiens, Holland spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins. In 1979-80, Holland appeared in 34 games and had a 10-17-6 record with a 3.83 goals against average and one shutout. He saw action in 10 games in 1980-81 and went 1-5-3 with a 5.01 goals against average. In the 1981 offseason, Holland was traded to the Islanders for future considerations. In 44 games with the Penguins, Holland went 11-22-9 with a 4.08 goals against average and one shutout.
-Happy 41st birthday to former Penguins defenseman Chris Joseph (right). A first-round pick in 1987 (No. 5 overall), Joseph spent parts of three seasons over two different stints with the Penguins. As a rookie in 1987-88, Joseph appeared in 17 games and recorded four assists before being traded along with Craig Simpson, Dave Hannan and Moe Mantha to the Oilers in exchange for Paul Coffey, Dave Hunter and Wayne Van Dorp. After stints with the Oilers and Lightning, Joseph returned to the Penguins when he was claimed off waivers from the Lightning early in the 1994-95 season. In 33 games with the Penguins that season, Joseph scored 15 points. In that spring's playoffs, saw action in 10 games and netted two points. Joseph played in 70 games in 1995-96 and contributed 19 points. In that season's playoffs, Joseph appeared in 15 games and scored one goal. In the 1997 offseason, Joseph signed with the Flyers as a free agent. In 120 regular season games with the Penguins, Joseph scored 38 points. In 25 playoff games with the Penguins, he scored three points. He is currently a firefighter in Edmonton and coaches his son's peewee team.
Atlantic Division
-The Devils will put single-game tickets on sale beginning today at 11 a.m. The Penguins will lose at travel to New Jersey Oct. 11, Jan. 20 and March 4.
-The Islanders will put single-game tickets on sale beginning Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. The Penguins visit New York Dec. 29, Feb. 11 and April 8.
Northeast Division
-After a cruddy 2009-10, Senators goaltender Pascal Leclaire (right) needs to rebound in 2010-11 as he enters the final year of his contract.
Southeast Division
-The Thrashers will put single-game tickets on sale beginning today at 10 a.m. The Penguins travel to Atlanta Nov. 13 and April 10.
-The Panthers will put single-game tickets on sale beginning today at noon. The Penguins travel to Florida Nov. 22 and April 2.
-Coupon-clipping Lightning goaltender Dan Ellis abandons Twitter.
Central Division
-The Blue Jackets signed Ryan Johansen, their first-round pick (No. 4 overall) in this summer's draft, to a three-year entry-level contract.
-Blue goaltender Jaroslav Halak will sport two different helmets this season:
-The second helmet features the likenesses of former Blues goaltenders Jacques Plante, Mike Liut and Grant Fuhr.
Northwest Division
-The Oilers have yet to re-sign restricted free agent forward Andrew Cogliano.
Pacific Division
-The Coytes extended their affiliation agreement with the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL.
-Kings play-by-play television announcer Bob Miller will undergo a non-emergency surgical procedure today. If you're a Center Ice or Game Center subscriber, or just a Kings fan, you know Miller is one of the best play-by-play guys in the business.
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Patrick Division
-Today would've been the 102nd birthday of former Pittsburgh Hornets forward Pete Palangio.
(Photos: Asham-Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images; Staal-Jamie Sabau/Getty Images; Joseph-Peter Diana/Post-Gazette; Leclaire-Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images; Halak masks-Jeremy Rutherford/St. Louis Post-Dispatch)