Empty Netter Assists - 09-19-10
Penguins
-"I live downtown so I heard it every day."- Kris Letang, a native of Montreal, on losing to the Canadiens in last season's playoffs.
-If you can imagine such a thing, the Sidney Crosby (above) skated with Pascal Dupuis and Chris Kunitz..
-Approximately 6,000 showed up for practice yesterday.
-Mark Letestu had a good first day of camp.
-Dan Bylsma speaks:
-Some photos from practice. Crosby challenging to defensemen:
-A shiny new home:
-Some shiny new ice:
-Chris Kunitz going to the net against Brent Johnson:
-Crosby ripping one on Mattias Modig:
-Crosby is popular:
-IceBurgh attempts to star the wave proved unsucessful:
-Happy 40th birthday to current Penguins coach Dan Bylsma. Promoted from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton midway through the 2008-09 season as a replacement for Michel Therrien, Bylsma led the Penguins to an 18-3-4 record down the stretch and the third Stanley Cup title in franchise history. He became the 14th coach in NHL history to lead a team to a championship in his first season. Last season, the Penguins had a 47-28-7 record under Bylsma and reached the postseason once again. Overall, he has a 65-28-7 record. His win total the ninth-best total in franchise history.
Atlantic Division
-If you can imagine such a thing, there's a superstar Russian forward changing positions in the Atlantic Division. The Devils are moving Ilya Kovalchuk from left wing to right wing and teaming him on a line with Travis Zajac and Zach Parise.
-Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur (right) is apparently a Quebec Nordiques fan.
-New Jersey is kicking around the idea of retiring the No. 27 of former defenseman Scott Niedermayer.
-Islanders forward and former Penguin Andy Hilbert is dealing with a groin strain.
-Is it a surprise that former Penguins forward Bill Guerin is already popular in the Flyers' locker room?
-To say the least, the Flyers haven't had a lot of stability in net in the past decade.
-Former Penguins forward Ruslan Fedotenko (right), currently in the Rangers' camp on a tryout basis, apparently quit eating Primanti's. He's down to 200 pounds after playing around 215 pounds last season.
-Everyone in New York must be watching "The Biggest Loser." New Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard dropped approximately 30 pounds this offseason.
Northeast Division
-After hitting a rut in the ice yesterday, Senators defenseman Filip Kuba was forced to go to a hospital due to a leg injury.
-A knee sprain will sideline Sabres defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani four to six weeks.
-Unrestricted free agent forward Mark Parrish, formerly of the Lightning, is attending the Sabres' training camp on a tryout basis.
-As the big return in the deal which sent playoff hero Jaroslav Halak, forward Lars Eller is already feeling the heat in Montreal.
-The Bruins have teamed 18-year-old forward Tyler Seguin, the No 2 pick in this summer's draft, with 42-year-old former Penguins forward Mark Recchi (right).
-Maple Leafs forward and former Penguin Luca Caputi beefed up this offseason by adding 15 pounds. Fire Ray Shero.
Southeast Division
-Former Penguins forward Adam Hall is fighting for a roster spot with the Lightning.
-Florida forward David Booth claims he's feels good after suffering two concussions last season.
-Atlanta's Dustin Byfuglien has no problem moving from forward back to defense.
Central Division
-The Blue Jackets defined former coach Ken Hitchcock's role with the club as a "special advisor." Hitchcock primarily evaluates the clubs junior and college prospects.
-The Blues have a promotion this year where fans can buy tickets for half price. They only have to pay the other half if St. Louis makes the playoffs.
-Davis Payne, entering his first training camp as the Blues' coach, sounds a lot like Dan Bylsma.
-Red Wings forward Kris Draper is dealing with a groin injury. No word if he injured while waiting for Sidney Crosby's handshake.
Northwest Division
-It looks like Oilers defenseman and former Penguin Ryan Whitney (right) is finally comfortable with his feet after having surgery on both his arches.
-Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo dropped eight pounds this summer after cycling approximately 1,200 miles.
-After years of dominating in the AHL, forward Alexandre Giroux is trying to stick in the NHL with the Oilers.
-Peter Best, a 15-year-old from Minnesota, won a contest to design the mask of Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom.
Pacific Division
-The level of expertise went up in Anaheim this offseason as the Ducks brought in defenseman Andy Sutton.
-Dallas forward Mike Ribeiro hit the weights this offseason. He's up to 177 pounds after playing at 165 last season.
-Stars forward Brad Richards, one of the highest paid players in the NHL with a salary cap hit of $7.8 million, is entering the final year of his contract.
-"I don't really like that so much." - Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle being sarcastic about the Blackhawks-themed gear of new goaltender Antti Niemi. Niemi was in goal for Chicago during a sweep of the Sharks during last season's Western Conference final.
Smythe Division
-Today would've been teh 119th birthday of Odie Cleghorn, a forward with the NHL's Pittsburgh Pirates.
(Photos: Penguins pracitce-Keith Srakocic/Associated Press; Brodeur-Bill Kostroun/Associated Press; Fedotenko-Jamie Sabau/Getty Images; Recchi-Elsa/Getty Images; Whitney-Dale MacMillan/Getty Images; Backstrom-Michael Russo/Star Tribune; Richards-Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)