Empty Netter Assists - 09-11-10
Penguins
-Sidney Crosby (above, confronting a family about its dead lawn... we think) has had enough of the offseason.
-"I feel like I'm in the best shape of my life." - Eric Tangradi apparently thinking he's Mario Lemieux.
-Former Penguins defenseman Alain Nasreddine (right) is cutting his teeth as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's assistant coach (PG+).
-The Penguins' rookie camp in London, Ont. begins today.
-The Penguins' Web site has a video from yesterday's season ticket deliveries. After three years, the Post-Gazette still can't find a blogging platform which can embed a video from the the NHL. So as a result, we'll just link to it.
-Former Penguins forward Jeff Christian has joined the Mississippi RiverKings of the CHL.
-Happy 30th birthday to current Penguins forward Mike Comrie. A free-agent signing last month, Comrie has spent nine NHL seasons with the Oilers, Flyers, Coyotes, Senators and Islanders. He has 359 career points in 568 games.
-Happy 63rd birthday to former Penguins forward Garry Swain. The Penguins' first-round pick in 1968 (No. 4 overall), Swain's entire NHL career amounted to nine games and two points with the Penguins in 1968-69. After spending the next seasons in the minor leagues, Swain was released in the 1971 offseason.
Atlantic Division
-"This is a team I would definitely like to play for, but we'll see." - Former Penguins forward Bill Guerin (right) on potentially joining the Flyers. He is currently an unrestricted free agent.
-With former Penguins forward Rusland Fedotenko coming to training camp, the Rangers will have a log jame of left wingers.
Northeast Division
-How much will former Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar help the Senators?
Southeast Division
-The Thrashers plan on using former Blackhawks forward Dustin Byfuglien at his orginal position on defense.
-The Lightning signed forward Alex Hutchings, a third-round pick in 2009, to a three-year entry-level contract.
Central Division
-The Blues named forwards David Backes, Alexander Steen and defensement Barrett Jackman and Erik Johnson (right) as assistant captains. Defenseman Eric Brewer will remain as captain.
Northwest Division
-The Avalanche re-signed restricted free agent forward Peter Mueller to a two-year deal worth a total of $4 million. He will have a salary cap hit of $2 million.
-The Oilers re-signed restricted free agent forward Andrew Cogliano to a one-year deal worth $1 million.
-Canucks prospect Cody Hodgson, a first-round pick in 2008, is dealing with a wonky back.
-Wild captain Mikko Koivu claims his surgically repaired knee and shoulders are completely healthy.
Pacific Division
-The Coyotes re-signed restricted free agent forward Martin Hanzal (right) to a two-year deal worth $3.6 million. He will have a salary cap hit of $1.8 million.
-Kings forward prospect Brayden Schenn, a first-round pick in 2009, is day-to-day with a knee ailment.
Smythe Division
-The NHL is now offering fake "sleeve tatoo" shirts. Jersey foul? Try life foul.
-Today would've been the 67th birthday of former Pittsburgh Hornets forward Butch Paul.
-Much Bigger than Hockey Note of the Day: Nine years ago today, Kings scouts Garnet "Ace" Bailey and Mark Bavis were among the thousands of lives lost in the Sept. 11 attacks.
(Photos: Crosby-Pam Panchak/Post-Gazette; Nasreddine-Penguins Hockey Cards; Guerin-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images; Johnson-Victor Decolongon/Getty Images; Hanzal-Christian Petersen/Getty Images)