Empty Netter Assists - 08-10-10
Penguins
-Smith Provision Company will be your official supplier of emulsified meat at Consol Energy Center.
-Happy 42nd birthday to former Penguins defenseman Greg Hawgood (right). Acquired at the 1994 trade deadline in a deal which sent Jeff Daniels to to the Panthers, Hawgood spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins. He finished the 1993-94 season by playing in 12 games and scored three points. In 1994-95, Hawgood saw action in 21 games and scored five points. He was released in the 1995 offseason. In 33 games with the Penguins, he scored eight points.
Atlantic Division
-After having their 17-year contract agreement shot down by an arbitrator yesterday, the Devils began negotiations on a new deal with unrestricted free agent forward Ilya Kovalchuk.
-In addition to shooting down Kovalchuk's potential deal, arbitrator Richard Bloch noted in his ruling that the long-term deals signed in previous years by Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo, Bruins forward Marc Savard, Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger and Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa are also under investigation.
-Flyers tough guy Riley Cote announced his retirement and became an assistant coach with the club's AHL affiliate in Adirondack.
-No word yet if Cote will have former Penguins enforcer Georges Laraque air mail his helmet for him once again:
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Southeast Division
-The Lightning signed defenseman Radko Gudas, a third-round pick in June's draft, to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Central Division
-Unrestricted free agent defenseman Ruslan Salei, formerly of the Avalanche, signed a one-year deal with the Red Wings worth $750,000.
-Red Wings and Tigers owner Mike Ilich is attempting to buy the Pistons.
-Blackhawks goaltender Cristobal Huet (right), a native of France, took the Stanley Cup to the Eiffel Tower.
-The Predators re-signed goaltender Mark Dekanich to a one-year, two-way contract.
Northwest Division
The Oilers re-signed restricted free agent forward Liam Reddox to a one-year deal worth $550,000.
Pacific Division
-The Ducks officially re-signed unrestricted free agent forward Teemu Selanne to a one-year deal $3.25 million.
Norris Division
-The NHL released its overall preseason schedule.
(Photos: Hawgood-Penguins Hockey Cards; Huet-Jean-Pierre Clatot/AFP/Getty Images)