Empty Netter Assists - 09-17-10
Penguins
-Jordan Staal won't be going bowling anytime soon.
-Arron Asham and Matt Cooke are BFFs.
-Does Brooks Orpik replace Sergei Gonchar as an alternate captain?
-Orpik and Chris Kunitz needed the offseason to get healthy (PG+).
-Former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin apparently sees the same optometrist as Dan Bylsma:
-The Penguins went golfing in the rain yesterday at Allegheny Country Club:
-Not impressed:
{youtube width="480" height="385"}GYbUx6wZ7z4{/youtube}
-Bye-bye to the Civic Arena?
-Happy 59th birthday to former Penguins forward Gene Carr. Acquired early in the 1977-78 season along with Dave Schultz and a draft pick in a deal which sent Syl Apps Jr. and Hartland Monahan to the Kings, Carr's Penguins' career amounted to 70 games and 54 points that campaign. In the 1978 offseason, Carr joined the Atlanta Flames as a free agent.
Atlantic Division
-Unlike in previous seasons, the Rangers don't plan on playing goaltender Henrik Lundqvist in 82,343 games.
Northeast Division
-According to Le Presse in Montreal, the Canadiens will name forward Brian Gionta (right) as their next captain.
Southeast Division
-The Hurricanes are close to re-signing former forward Patrick O'Sullivan to a one-year two-way contract.
-Thrashers forward prospect Patrice Cormier dinged up his foot after blocking a shot in practice. He was acquired from the Devils last season in the trade which sent Ilya Kovalchuk to the Devils.
-The Lightning is bringing former forward Eric Perrin to training camp on a tryout basis.
Central Division
-The Blackhawks signed head coach Joel Quenneville (right) to a three-year contract extension which will last through the 2013-14 season.
-Chicago will loan goaltender Cristobal Huet to a team in Switzerland in order to take his $5.6 million salary cap hit off the books.
Northwest Division
-The Canucks will bring former forward Brendan Morrison to training camp on a tryout basis.
-With Ethan Moreau off to Columbus, the Oilers need a new captain.
-Do yourself a favor and read this solid story by Michael Russo of the Star Tribune in Minneapolis on Minnesota native Matt Cullen living the dream with the Wild.
Pacific Division
-The Stars agreed to two-year contracts with restricted free agent forward James Neal and defenseman Matt Niskanen. Neal signed for a total of $5.75 million and will have a salary cap hit of $2.875 million. Niskanen signed for a total of $3 million and will have a salary cap hit of $1.5 million.
-The Ducks signed unrestricted free agent defenseman Paul Mara, formerly of the Canadiens, to a one-year deal worth $775,000.
-Anaheim defenseman Toni Lydman, a free agent signing this offseason, will be sidelined due to double vision.
-The Sharks will bring unrestricted free agent defenseman Andreas Lilja (right), formerly of the Red Wings, to training camp on a tryout basis.
Patrick Division
-Former Panthers/Canucks/Lightning/Flyers defenseman Lukas Krajicek has joined HC Trinec in the Czech Republic.
-Penn State will hold a press conference today to officially announce the addition of Division I men's hockey.
-Today would've been the 103rd birthday of former Pittsburgh Yellowjackets forward Frank Ingram.
(Photos: Staal-Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press; Gionta-Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images; Quenneville-Andre Ringuette/Getty Images; Lilja-Dave Sandford/Getty Images)