Empty Netter Assists - 09-14-10

Penguins

-Dan Bylsma is digging his team's depth.

-"I’m not going there as a tourist." - Simon Despres on the Penguins' training camp (PG+).

-It looks like the Penguins have unveiled their new marketing campaign. It revolves around the word "here." "Here" being Consol Energy Center.

-Click here for information regarding a raffle for tickets to the Penguins' season opener, Oct. 7 against the Flyers. Proceeds benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

-Happy 60th birthday to former Penguins forward and captain Orest Kindrachuk (right). Acquired in the 1978 offseason along with Tom Bladon and Ross Lonsberry in a trade which sent a first-round pick to the Flyers, Kindrachuk spent three seasons with the Penguins and served as the team's captain during that entire span. In 1978-79, Kindrachuk appeared in 79 games, led the team with 42 assists and scored 60 points, second-most on the team. In that spring's playoffs, Kindrachuk appeared in seven games and led the team with five points. He played in 52 games in 1979-80 and contributed 46 points. His final season in Pittsburgh was 1980-81. A back injury limited him to 13 games and 12 points. In the 1981 offseason, he joined the Capitals as a free agent. In 144 games with the Penguins, Kindrachuk scored 118 points.

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Atlantic Division

-The Devils were fined $3 million and were penalized a first-round pick in one of the next four years' drafts and a third-round pick in 2011 by the NHL by attempting to circumvent the salary cap in their first contract agreement with forward Ilya Kovalchuk.

-New Jersey's payroll is still over the salary cap.

-Are the Devils ever going to get around to offering a contract extension to forward Zach Parise who will be a restricted free agent after 2010-11?

Northeast Division

-Gary Bettman will hold a press conference in Ottawa Wednesday. He is expected to announced that the Senators will host an upcoming all-star lame game.

Southeast Division

-The Thrashers re-signed restricted free agent forward Niclas Bergfors to a one-year deal worth $900,000. Bergfors was part of a trade which sent Ilya Kovalchuk to the Devils last season.

-Lightning forward and former Penguins Ryan Malone (right) voluntarily gave his No. 12 to new teammate Simon Gagne. Malone will now wear No. 6.

Central Division

-After missing the playoffs last season, the Blue Jacket's season tickets sales have taken a hit.

-Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews showed up at Soldier Field Sunday with the Stanley Cup:

-He's either wearing a Devin Aromashodu jersey or he's committing a pretty bad jersey foul.

Northwest Division

-The Oilers told defenseman Sheldon Souray not to report to training camp.

-Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo (right) relinquished his team's captaincy.

-Former Canucks/Senators/Bruins forward Peter Schaefer will attend the Canucks' training camp on a tryout basis.

-The Avalanche will put single-game tickets on sale Saturday at noon, EDT. The Penguins visit Colorado Feb. 16.

-Unrestricted free agent goaltender Vesa Toskala turned down an offer to return to Calgary to be Miikka Kiprusoff's backup. He still think's he's a No. 1 goaltender.

Adams Division

-Today would've been the 93rd birthday of former Pittsburgh Yellowjackets and Hornets forward Gus Giesebrecht.

(Photos: Kindrachuk-Penguins Hockey Cards; Malone-Chris O'Meara/Associated Press; Toews and Luongo-Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)