Empty Netter Assists - 06-08-11
Penguins
-Assistant coaches Tony Granato, Gilles Meloche, Todd Reirden (above) and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach John Hynes and assistant Alain Nasreddine all received contract extensions.
-Ray Shero discusses concussions:
-Happy 49th birthday to former Penguins forward Phil Bourque. An undrafted free agent signed prior to the 1982-83 season, Bourque spent parts of eight seasons with the Penguins. He made his NHL debut in 1983-84 by appearing in five games and scoring one goal. He 
followed that up in 1985-86 by playing in four contests and failing to record a point. During 1986--87, Bourque (right) saw action in 22 games and collected five points. In 1987-88, he played in 21 games and contributed 16 points. The 1988-89 season was his first full campaign in the NHL as he appeared in a team-leading 80 games and recorded a career-high 43 points. In 11 postseason games that spring, he scored five points. He followed that up with a 39-point effort in 76 games during 1989-90. The 1990-91 season saw Bourque appear in 76 games and recorded 34 points including a career-high 22 goals. He added 13 points in 24 postseason games and played a key role in the franchise's first Stanley Cup championship. In 1991-92, Bourque only appeared in 58 games and scored 26 points. He helped the Penguins successfully defend their championship by netting seven points in 21 playoff games. In the 1992 offseason, he signed with the Rangers. In 344 regular season games with the Penguins, Bouruqe scored 164 points, 47th-most in franchise history. In 56 postseason games, Bourque had 25 points. "The Old Two-Niner," is currently a radio broadcaster with the Penguins.
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Playoff Stuff
Canucks - Bruins
-Bruins forward Nathan Horton will miss the rest of the Stanley Cup Final due to a concussion suffered on this hit by Canucks defenseman Aaron Rome in Game 3:
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-Rome will be suspended four games for the hit. If the series does not last seven games, Rome's suspension will carry over until next season.
-Acting NHL discipline czar Mike Murphy said Rome was not suspended for striking Horton in the head. Rather, he was punished due to the lateness of the contact and the severity of the injury.
-EN Says: We really didn't expect the NHL to go this far, but at the same time, it's probably not far enough. Horton suffered a serious injury on a dangerous play. If this was a regular season game, Rome (right) is probably looking at 10 games. but in the NHL's warped "playoff math" playoff games count more than regular season game despite the fact that players don't get paid on a game-by-game basis in the postseason. The NHL exceeded our expetations, but it wasn't nearly enough.
Additionally, the fact that the NHL didn't recogonized the fact that Horton was struck in the head is not surprising, but it is extremely disappointing.
-"I don't know how the league could come up with that decision." - Canucks coach Alain Vigneault reaction to the suspension.
-"I know it's tough for the league. It's a fine line. But I have no clue what's a suspension and what's not a suspension." - Canucks forward Daniel Sedin.
-With Rome suspended and fellow defenseman Dan Hamhuis dealing with a suspected ankle injury, the Canucks will turn to defenseman Keith Ballard.
-With Horton injured, the Bruins will bring rookie forward Tyler Seguin (right) back to the lineup.
-"I don't know if he has an ounce of man in him. I'd be embarrassed to be his father." - Stars enforcer Krys Barch on Canucks antagonist Maxim Lapierre.
-A Canucks jersey was stolen off a statue in Vancouver's Stanley Park.
Calder Cup Final
-Robin Lehner made 34 saves for the Binghamton Senators in a series-clinching 3-2 defeat of the Houston Aeros in Game 6 of the Calder Cup Final. Houston is coached by former Penguins assistant coach Mike Yeo. Fire Ray Shero.
Non-Playoff Stuff
Atlantic Division
-The Flyers acquired the signing rights of unrestricted free agent goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov (right) from the Coyotes in exchange for Matt Clackson, a 2012 third-round draft pick and future considerations.
EN Says: Flyers owner Ed Snider said he wanted a real goaltender after his team experienced all sorts off issues in net during the playoffs. His team went out and got one. Or the signing rights to one at the very least. Bryzgalov is arguably the best free agent scheduled to be on the market July 1. A former Vezina Trophy finalist, he's a legit franchise goaltender. The Coyotes weren't going to be able to sign him given their finanical constraints so they cut a deal and got something tangible for him.
The Flyers will need to clear some salary cap space in order to get Bryzgalov under contract. He can easily command in excess of $6 million a season. The Flyers will need to cut loose someone subsantial like a Scott Hartnell or Jeff Carter (Those are just names we're tossing around.) in order to make it work with Bryzgalov.
Northeast Division
-Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson (right) will undergo surgery on his lower back Friday.
Southeast Division
-The Thrashers franchise has hired Blackhawks assistant general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff as their new general manager.
-The Hurricanes hired former Red Wings and Bruins head coach Dave Lewis as an assistant coach.
Central Division
-The Blue Jackets did not renew the contracts of assistant general manager Don Boyd and director of pro scouting Bob Strumm.
Norris Division
-Former Canucks forward Mario Bliznak and Maple Leafs forward Alex Foster have joined HC Sprata of the Czech Extraliga.
(Photos: Reirden-Matt Freed/Post-Gazette; Bourque-Penguins Hockey Cards; Rome-Rick Stewart/Getty Images; Seguin-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images; Bryzgalov-Christian Petersen/Getty Images; Alfredsson-Photobucket)