Empty Netter Assists - 06-18-12

Penguins

-Happy 46th birthday to former Penguins defenseman Doug Bodger (right). Along with Roger Belanger and some other guy, Bodger was one of three first-round picks for the Penguins in the 1984 draft. Bodger would spend parts of five seasons with the franchise. His rookie season in 1984-85 saw Bodger appear in 65 games and record 31 points. In 1985-86, Bodger played in 79 games and increased his points to 37. Bodger's progression continued in the 1986-87 campaign as he saw action in 76 games and led all Penguins defensemen with 49 points. He recorded a career high in goals (14) while scoring 45 points and playing in 69 games in 1987-88. He also scored 13 power-play goals, a mark which remains a franchise record for defensemen. After scoring five points in 10 games in 1988-89, Bodger was dealt to the Sabres along with Darrin Shannon in exchange for Tom Barrasso and a draft pick. In 299 games with the Penguins, Bodger recorded 167 points, 48th-most in franchise history and seventh-most among defensemen.

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-Happy 60th birthday to former Penguins goaltender Denis Herron. A third-round pick in the 1972 draft, Herron spent parts of 10 seasons with the Penguins over three different stints. His rookie season of 1972-73 saw him appear in 18 games and put up a 6-7-2 record with two shutouts and a 3.41 goals against average. The 1973-74 campaign was decidedly less successful as he compiled a meager 1-3-0 record and a 4.15 goals against average in only five games. After three games, a 1-1-0 record and 6.11 goals against average in 1973-75, Herron was traded to the Kansas City Scouts along with Jean-Guy Lagace in exchange for Michel Plasse. Following two seasons in Kansas City, Herron returned to Pittsburgh as a free agent in the 1976 offseason. The 1976-77 season saw him go 15-11-5 with a 2.94 goals against average, one shutout and lead the Penguins to a playoff berth. During that spring's postseason, Herron (right) had a 1-2 record with a 3.67 goals against average. In 1977-78, he has had a losing record of 20-25-15 with a 3.57 goals against average and made 1,920 saves, a mark which remains a franchise record. He rebounded in 1978-79 by going 22-19-12 with a 3.37 record and once again led the team to the playoffs where he went 2-5 with a 3.42 goals against average. In the 1979 offseason, he was traded the Canadiens along with a draft pick for Pat Hughes and Rob Holland. After spending three seasons in Montreal and earning a Stanley Cup ring, the Vezina and Jennings Trophies, Herron once again returned to the Penguins in the 1982 offseason when the Canadiens traded him back to Pittsburgh for a draft pick. In 1982-83, Herron saw action in 31 games, went 5-18-5 with a 5.31 goals against average with one shutout. During 1983-84, Herron appeared in 38 games, had an 8-24-2 record with a 4.08 goals against average and one shutout. His final full NHl season was 1984-85. He played in 42 games, went 10-22-3 with a 4.65 goals against average and one shutout. He was limited to three games in 1985-86 and went 0-3-0 with a 4.67 goals against average. Herron was released in the 1986 offseason. Considered one of the more underrated players in franchise history, Herron appeared in 290 regular games with the Penguins, third-most in franchise history among goaltenders, and compiled a record of 88-133-44 with a 3.88 goals against average and six shutouts. In 10 postseason games, he was 3-7 with a 3.49 goals against average.

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Northeast Division

-After working hard last offseason in order to recover from a neck injury and nearly burning himself out, Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty is taking it a little easier this offseason.

Southeast Division

-“It’s a tough call. My read on it is there will be (NHL) trades Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Whether we’re going to be one of the teams and get in on those early trades or not, I mean, we’re trying to. But it’s hard to say when we’re going to able to move and acquire the type of player we’re trying to get.” - Hurricanes general manager and former Penguins goaltender Jim Rutherford on his team heading into the draft.

Northwest Division

-"The difference with the draft as opposed to other times in the year is everybody's in the same city, so you can have face-to-face dialogue. It's harder to be evasive in face-to-face meetings unless you run for the door." - Wild general manager and former Penguins executive Chuck Fletcher on trading at the draft.

Adams Division

-Get ready to hear plenty about Nail Yakupov this week.

(Photos: Bodger and Herron-Penguins Hockey Cards)