Empty Netter Assists - 07-05-12
-Shockingly, the sun still came up today despite Ray Shero.
-Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. Not Penguins.
-"We never got close to anything like that in terms of any sort a verbal agreement or any sort of negotiation." - Ray Shero on pursuing Parise or Suter.
-"I think I can play in any position on the power play. I can play the point. I can carry the puck in, or play the half wall or down low. I think just being able to punch me in anywhere they see fit might be a position they're going to look at." - Former Penguins forward Steve Sullivan on what he brings to the Coyotes.
-The Penguins signed former Maple Leafs forward Philippe Dupuis (right) to a one-year, two-way contract. (PG+) In 30 NHL games this season, Dupuis, 27, scored no points. He is not related to Pascal Dupuis
-EN Says: This is another signing for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Philippe Dupuis is a third-line checking center at the AHL level who is a good shutdown, defensive forward who can win draws. Don't expect to see double Dupuises anytime soon at the NHL level.
-“Obviously I was disappointed when (Tomas Vokoun) signed. We wall want opportunities to play in the NHL and that kind of solidified (Pittsburgh’s) goaltending situation. But looking ahead, my best opportunity was here.” - Brad Thiessen on his decision to re-sign with the Penguins.
-Don't expect the Penguins to sort through the free agent market scraps. (PG+)
-Former Penguins defenseman Pavel Skrbek has joined Luleå of Sweden's Elitserien.
-Happy 42nd birthday to former Penguins forward John LeClair. An all-star with the rival Flyers, LeClair joined the Penguins as a free agent following the 2004-05 lockout. He appeared in 73 games in 2005-06 and recorded a respectable 51 points. After 21 games and seven points in 2006-07, LeClair was released in December. In 94 games with the Penguins, he scored 58 points.
{youtube width="465" height="349"}Bb_IqVs-tUo{/youtube}
-Happy 27th birthday to former Penguins defenseman Alexandre Picard. A free agent signing last summer, Picard appeared in 17 NHL games last season and recorded four assists. This offseason, he was not offered a contract to return.
Atlantic Division
-"Yes, our offer was competitive. We did not, at any time, have a phone call that we needed to change it or that it had to go up. It was competitive." - Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello on the offer his team made to former captain Zach Parise.
Southeast Division
-The Lightning signed former Flyers forward Matt Carle (right) to a six-year contract worth a total of $33 million. He will have a salary cap hit of $5.5 million. Carle, 27, appeared in 82 games last season and scored 38 points. He played 12 games for the Lightning in 2008-09.
-EN Says: Between Carle and Sami Salo, the Lightning has done quite a bit to shore up its defense, a position which was weak last season. Carle is a big-minute defender who can plan in every situation. Expect him to routinely get more than 25 minutes a game next season. He's not all that physical, but he'll stablelized Tampa Bay's blue line.
-The Jets signed former Islanders goaltender Al Montoya to a one-year contract worth a total of $601,000. In 31 games last season, Montoya, 27, had a 9-11-5 record, a 3.10 goals against average, and .893 save percentage.
-EN Says: After losing Chris Mason in free agency, the Jets needed a new back-up goaltender. Montoya is more than capable of playing 20 to 25 games a season.
Central Division
-"I think disappointment would not adequately describe the word I would like to choose. Disappointed and little surprised based on all the conversations we’ve had.” - Predators general manager David Poile on failing to re-sign Ryan Suter (right).
-“We’ve been in this situation, we’ve had people leave, one player’s not going to make our team." - Predators coach Barry Trotz on Suter.
-With Suter gone, the Predators turn their attention to re-signing restricted free agent defenseman Shea Weber.
-After missing out on Suter and seeing captain Nicklas Lidstrom retiring, what do the Red Wings' do?
Northwest Division
-"Ryan and I had talked throughout the year. You always say to each other: 'Wouldn't it be great to have the chance to play with each other and play on the same team.'" - New Wild forward Zach Parise on joining the Wild along with new teammate, defenseman Ryan Suter.
-"It came down to the idea of being able to come home to play and be around family.” - Parise (right) on leaving the Devils.
-“I talked to David this morning, called David, toughest phone call that I’ve ever had to make in my life, it was so hard to make that to David, David had done so much for me, they’re a first class operation in Nashville, and it stars with David Poile." - Suter on leaving the Predators and general manager David Poile.
-"These guys could go to any team. They were offered more money. We know it -- by a number of teams. These guys decided this was the team. They spent so much time looking at our prospects, looking at our players and talking to some of the players." - Wild owner Craig Leipold.
-The Wild signed forward Jake Dowell to a one-year two-way contract.
-The Flames re-signed restricted free agent forwards Akim Aliu and Paul Byron to one-year two-way contracts.
Pacific Division
-“(Scout) Jiri Hrdina was over in the Czech Republic and he has known Jagr for a while, and he was a huge factor." - Stars president Jim Lites on how his team was able to sign former Penguins captain Jaromir Jagr (right). Hrdina and Jagr were teammates in Pittsburgh during the early 1990s.
-The condition of Coyotes forward Brett McLean is improving after he suffered a cardiac emergency Monday.
Patrick Division
-Former Islanders defenseman Mark Katic has joined Eisbären Berlin of Germany's DEL.
-Former Panthers forward Evgenii Dadonov has joined Donbass Donetsk of Russia's KHL.
(Photos-Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh-Post-Gazette archives; Dupuis and Suter-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images; Carle-Justin K. Aller/Getty Images; Parise-Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)