Empty Netter Assists - 07-01-12
Penguins
-Note: We will have a semi-live blog today beginning at noon to track the free agent signings.
-Ray Shero and the Penguins go shopping today.
-"I love everything about the organization." - Matt Niskanen (above) on re-signing with the Penguins yesterday. (PG+)
-Welcome back Brad Thiessen.
-“As a goaltender, there are only so many spots available. If you look at the landscape, there are a lot of goalies looking for spots, and if you find yourself on the outside, you could really be scrambling.” - Thiessen on re-signing with the Penguins.
-Happy 45th birthday to former Penguins forward Mike Eastwood (right). A free agent signing in the 2003 offseason, Eastwood spent one season with the Penguins. In 2003-04, he appeared in all 82 of the team's games and recorded 19 points. He retired in 2004.
Atlantic Division
-“In a perfect world, we’d be able to keep the team we had this last year. The reality is it’s tough to do. Up until Marty got an agent, you’d never have thought Marty would not be playing for the Devils. But there is the possibility." - Devils defenseman Bryce Salvador on goaltender Martin Brodeur.
-The Devils placed forward/enforcer Eric Boulton on waivers with the intentions of buying out his contract.
-The Penguins aren't the only team in Pennsylvania interested in signing Zach Parise or Ryan Suter.
Northeast Division
-The Maple Leafs placed former Penguins forward Colby Armstrong (right) on waivers for the purposes of buying out the final year of his contract. Armstrong, 29, appeared in 29 games last season and recorded three points (one goal, two assists).
-EN Says: Just say no. Just because you have a Colby Armstrong jersey from five years ago, that's not a strong enough reason for the Penguins to re-sign a broken down third-line winger.
-The Canadiens re-signed defenseman Alexei Emelin to a two-year contract worth a total of $4 million. He will have a salary cap hit of $2 million. In 67 games last season, Emelin, 26, scored seven points (three goals, four assists).
-EN Says: This is a solid cap hit. Emelin is a No. 4 or 5 defenseman who like to hit big. He gives opposing forward something to think about when they enter the offensive zone.
-“My gut’s telling me that we’ll be quiet." - Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli on how his team will approach free agency.
Southeast Division
-The Lightning re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Keith Aulie to a one-year two-way contract.
-It doesn't sound like the Capitals will be aggressive in free agency.
Central Division
-“I don’t think we have too many holes on our hockey club. I think we have the one big hole, and that’s Ryan Suter.” - Predators general manager David Poile on unrestricted free agent defenseman Ryan Suter (right).
-The Predators re-signed unrestriced free agent forward Paul Gaustad to a four-year contract worth a total of $13 million. He will have a salary cap hit of $3.25 million. In 70 games last season, Gaustad, 30, had 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) and won 57.3 percent of his faceoffs.
-EN Says: What an overpayment for a third-line center. Gaustad is one of the best faceoff specialists in the NHL and he's pretty good at forechecking. And he's a team-first guy. But beyond that, there's little he does that merits this type of salary.
-"-The Blue Jackets re-signed restricted free agent forward Jared Boll (right) to a two-year contract worth a total of $2.1 million. He will have a salary cap hit of $1.05 million. In 54 games last season, Boll, 26, had three points (one goal, two assists) and 126 penalty minutes.
-EN Says: Boll is an enforcer. He's not going to make or break the team.
-Unrestricted free agent Blues forward Jamie Langenbrunner doesn't want to leave St. Louis.
Northwest Division
-University of Wisconsin free agent defenseman Justin Schultz agreed to sign with the Oilers on a two-year entry-level contract. Schultz, who was pursued by 26 NHL teams, was a second-round picks of the Ducks in 2008 but never signed and become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
-The Wild will go after Zach Parise (right) very aggressively.
Pacific Division
-Talk about adding insult to injury. Fresh off beating the Devils in the Stanley Cup Final, the Kings plan on pursuing Zach Parise?
Norris Division
-The KHL released its 2012-13 schedule which includes the re-built Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team.
(Photos: Niskanen-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images; Eastwood-Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images; Armstrong-Claus Andersen/Getty Images; Suter-Jeff Gross/Getty Images; Boll-Ronald Martinez/Getty Images; Parise-Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)