Empty Netter Assists - 06-19-12

Penguins

-Flyers forward and former Penguins captain Jaromir Jagr (above) is expected to test free agency July 1.

-It didn't take long for the Penguins to shoot down any suggestion they would be interested in pursuing Jagr again. (PG+)

-How do the Penguins' draft classes under Ray Shero stack up against the rest of the NHL?

-The Wheeling Nailers made interim head coach Clark Donatelli the full-time head coach.

-The Nailers extended their affiliation agreement with the Penguins.

-Today would've been the 72nd birthday of former Penguins forward Keith McCreary (right). Acquired from the Canadiens in the 1967 expansion draft, McCreary spent fives seasons with the Penguins. During the teams inaugural season of 1967-68, McCreary appeared in 70 games and scored 26 points. In 1968-69, McCreary once again played in 70 games and led the team with 25 goals while scoring a career-high 48 points. The 1969-70 season saw McCreary play in 60 games while scoring 26 points. During that spring's postseason, he appeared in 10 games and recorded four points. The following season in 1970-71, McCreary once again led the team with 21 goals while scoring 33 points in 59 games. McCreary was limited to 33 games and eight points in 1971-72. He appeared in one postseason game that spring and failed to record a point. In the 1972 offseason, he was claimed by the Atlanta Flames in the expansion draft. In 292 games with the Penguins, McCreary, one of two players to wear No. 21 for the franchise - Michel Briere was the other - scored 141 points, 57th-most in franchise history. In 11 postseason games, he had four assists. He died, Dec. 8, 2003, at the age of 63.

Atlantic Division

-Devils forward Ilya Kovalchuk (right) may need surgery to repair a back injury.

-The Devils signed free agent forward Harri Pesonen to a one-year two-way contract.

Northeast Division

-Former Penguins defenseman Jay McKee was fired as an assistant coach of the Rochester Americans, the Sabres' AHL affiliate.

-“We are very active as it relates to finding ways to improve our hockey team." - Sabres general manager Darcy Regier admitting his team will be active in pursuing a trade this week.

-“It ramps up right now because there’s picks - the draft picks available on Friday and Saturday. Specifically to this year, it’s a function of a shallow pool of free agents. You’ve got teams that may not delve into free agency that are trying to be proactive. They’re trying to acquire guys prior to free agency, because when the pool is shallow, prices get pretty high.’’ - Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli on the surge in trades which usually happen around the draft.

Southeast Division

-“I’ve felt all along we might have to go the trade route to improve our team. We’re in the mix in a lot of conversations.” - Hurricanes general manager and former Penguins goaltender Jim Rutherford.

-The Lightning re-signed forward Mike Angelidis to a one-year two-way contract.

Central Division

-The Blues re-signed defenseman Barret Jackman (right) to a three-year contract worth a total of $9.5 million. He will have a salary cap hit of $3.25 million. Jackman, 31, appeared in 81 games last season and scored 13 points (one goal, 12 assists).

-EN Says: Jackman is almost like the Blues' version of Brooks Orpik. He's a physical defenseman who is just starting the back nine holes of his career. Additionally, as his team's most tenured player, Jackman is one of the Blues' leaders in the locker room. He's fully capable of playing 24-25 minutes a game and being one of the first players over the boards on the penalty kill and has been mostly durable, especially for a player in a physical role. This is a good contract for the Blues.

-The Blackhawks re-signed forwards Brandon Bollig and Ben Smith (two-years) and goaltender Carter Hutton (one-year) to two-way contracts.

-The Predators signed goaltender Magnus Hellberg, a second-round pick in 2011, to an entry-level contract. Terms were not revealed.

Northwest Division

-Wild goaltender Josh Harding (right) is seeking a multi-year contract. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent July 1.

-The Canucks made qualifying offers to restricted free agent goaltender Corey Schneiders, Eddie Lack and forward Dale Weise.

Pacific Division

-The Stars hired former Thrashers coach Curt Fraser as an assistant coach. He has spent the past four seasons as head coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Red Wings' AHL affiliate.

-San Jose re-signed defenseman Brad Stuart to a three-year contract worth a total of $10.8 million. He will have a salary cap hit of $3.6 million. Stuart, 32, appeared in 81 games last season with the Red Wings and scored 21 points. The Sharks his signing rights from Detroit earlier this month in exchange for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2014. He spent parts of the first six seasons of his NHL career in San Joses.

-EN Says: This is is a good contract for the Sharks. They get a top-four defenseman capable of playing 24-25 minutes a game for a fairly affordable price. Stuart offers a little of everything and has one of the few Stanley Cup rings in San Jose.

-The Sharks officially confirmed Todd McLellan (right) will return as head coach.

-Justin Schultz, a defenseman with the University of Wisconsin, is expected to be a hotly pursued free agent July 1. Drafted by the Ducks in the second round of 2008, he has not siged with Anaheim and will become an unrestricted free agent.

Smythe Division

-"We took Sundin and we were told we would regret it. I'm still waiting." - Mark Kelley, former Nordique scout on drafting forward Mats Sundin with the first overall pick of the 1989 draft.

-"Every team has so many scouts, and there's the Internet. Everything is a lot more open now, the scouting world. There aren't too many secrets anymore." - Blues scout and former Penguins defenseman Ville Siren on scouting in Europe.

-Former Bruins/Mighty Ducks/Ducks/Blackhawks/Blue Jackets/Canucks forward Samuel Pahlsson has joined MODO of Sweden's Elitserien.

(Photo: Jagr-Elsa Hasch/Allsport/Getty Images; McCreary-Penguins Hockey Cards; Kovalchuk-Jim McIsaac/Getty Images; Jackman-Jamie Sabau/Getty Images; Harding and McLellan-Jeff Gross/Getty Images)