Empty Netter Assists - 07-17-12

Penguins

-The Penguins re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Brian Strait (right) to a one-year two-way contract. Strait, 24, appeared in nine NHL games last season and recorded one assist. In 41 AHL games last season, he scored 16 points (four goals, 12 assists). He was a third-round pick in 2006.

-EN Says: Strait is one of nine waiver-eligible defensemen who is scheduled to report to the Penguins training camp in September. One way or another, he will be playing in the NHL next season even if its not with the Penguins. Strait has shown he can be a be a safe, reliable stay-at-home defenseman at the NHL level. If he can't make the Penguins' NHL roster out of training camp, he will likely be traded or claimed on waivers.

-The Penguins have extended an offer to unrestricted free agent forward Shane Doan.

-EN Says: Quite a few teams have expressed interest and have extended offers to Doan. Additionally, his agent isn't bashful when it comes to telling the world how much interest there is in his client. Doan first choice it to remain with the Coyotes. And he's going to wait until the last minute to see if that franchise's ownership situation can be squared away before making a choice.

-Happy 56th birthday to former Penguins all-star forward and assistant coach Bryan Trottier (right). A former Hart Trophy winner and a vital part of the Islanders Stanley Cup dynasty in the early 1980s, Trottier joined the Penguins as a free agent in the 1990 offseason and spent three seasons with the franchise. Providing leadership on a young team missing the talents of injured captain Mario Lemieux for most of the season, Trottier helped guide the squad to its first Patrick Division championship while appearing in 52 games and scoring 28 points in 1990-91. In the playoffs, Trottier appeared in all 23 of the team's games and contributed seven points including two game-winning goals as the franchise claimed its first Stanley Cup title. In 1991-92, Trottier recorded 29 points in 63 games and was selected to the All-Star Game. In the playoffs, he once again appeared in all 21 of the team's games and scored seven points as the franchise won its second consecutive Stanley Cup title. He retired in the 1992 offseason and sat out in 1992-93, but returned as a player/coach in 1993-94. That season, he saw action in 41 games and contributed 15 points. Trottier retired as a player for good in the 1994 offseason and became a full-time assistant with the Penguins. he served in that capacity until the 1997 offseason when he took a head coaching job with the AHL's Portland Pirates.  Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997, Trottier, a noted Brian Bellows fan along with teammate Kevin Stevens,  is one of the most accomplished players in NHL history with 1,425 career points, 15th-most in NHL history. In 156 regular season games with the Penguins, Trottier scored 72 points. In 46 postseason games, he scored 14 points.

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-Happy 51st birthday to former Penguins forward Jay Caufield. One of the toughest players in team history, Caufield, a former linebacker at North Dakota, came to the Penguins after being claimed off waivers from the North Stars prior to the 1988-89 season and spent five seasons with the franchise. In 1988-89, Caufield (right) saw action in 58 games and scored five points while racking up a team-leading 285 penalty minutes, a mark which remains a franchise record for rookies. He also appeared in nine playoff games that spring and racked up 28 penalty minutes. Caufield was limited to 37 games in and three points 1989-90 but still compiled 123 penalty minutes. In 1990-91, he only played in 23 games and recorded two points and 71 penalty minutes but still got his name on Stanley Cup that spring. Caufield saw a jump in playing time in 1991-92 as he played in 50 games and recorded 175 penalty minutes and once again helped the team claim a second Stanley Cup title. His final season in the NHL was 1992-93 as he appeared in 26 contests with 60 penalty minutes. He was released in the 1993 offseason. In 196 games with the Penguins, Caufield scored 10 points and recorded 714 penalty minutes, ninth-most in franchise history. After being replaced by a Pittsburgh firefighter in a Stanley Cup final against the Blackhawks, Brad Tolliver Caufield became a personal trainer and helped Mario Lemieux during his comeback in the 2000-01 season. He currently works as a broadcaster with Root Sports.

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Atlantic Division

-Islanders forward Matt Martin and defenseman Ty Wishart each declined qualifying offers.

Northeast Division

-The Canadiens re-signed restricted free agent forward Blake Geoffrion to a one-year two-way contract.

-The Senators signed former Islanders goaltender Nathan Lawson to a one-year two-way contract.

Southeast Division

-The Capitals re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Mike Green (right) to a three-year contract worth a total of $18.25 million. He will have a salary cap hit of $6,083,333. Green, 26, appeared 32 games last season and scored seven points.

-EN Says: Green has battled injuries, including several  head issues, the past few seasons. As a result, his production has plummeted. Four seasons ago, he scored 31 goals. Last season, he has even points. When healthy, Green is arguably the best offensive defenseman in the game. Even if has some significant flaws to his defensive game, Green produces offense like few defensemen can. Regarding those flaws, he actually began to play better in his own end under defensive-minded coach Dale Hunter. If he can stay healthy and find a balance in his game, this is a good contract.

-Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec was convicted drunk driving following a automobile accident in his native Czech Republic. The accident took place May 26, a month before he signed a five-year contract extension with the Jets worth $19.5 million. Pavelec was given a suspended six-month sentence and was ordered not to drive for 20 months. According to a report from Nova Sport, Pavelec has a blood alcohol level of .20. In the Czech Republic, the limit is zero.

Central Division

-The Blues re-signed forward Chris Porter to a one-year two-way contract.

Northwest Division

-The Oiler re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Theo Peckham (right) to a one-year contract worth $1.075 million. In 54 games last season, Peckham, 24, scored three points (one goal, two assists) and recorded 80 penalty minutes.

-EN Says: This seems like a "prove-it" contract for Peckham who dealt with injuries and inconsistencies last season. He's tough as nails and plays a pretty stay-at-home style. He's probably best suited for a third-pairing role.

Pacific Division

-A petition drive which would have put a referendum on the November ballot to potentially challenge the city of Glendale's lease agreement with would-be Coyotes owner Greg Jamison was formally rejected.

-The Kings re-signed restricted free agent forward Dwight King to a two-year contract worth a total of $1.5 million. He will have a salary cap hit of $750,000. In 27 regular games last season, King, 23, scored 14 points (five goals, nine assists). In 20 postseason games, he contributed eight points (five goals, three assists) and helped the franchise win its first Stanley Cup title.

-EN Says: King (right) showed he can be a valuable contributor in a fourth line role last season. He was a big part of a physical forechecking fourth line which punished opponent's blue lines. On top of that, he was able to chip in some key goals.

-The Stars re-signed restricted free agent forward Ryan Garbutt to a two-year contract. Financial terms were not reported. The team also resigned restricted free agent forward forward Luke Gazdic to a one-year two-way contract and defenseman Ludwig Bystrom, a second-round pick in 2012, to a three-year entry-level contract.

Norris Division

-Former Sharks/Senators/Kings/Avalanche defenseman Tom Preissing has joined Rogle of Sweden's Elitserien.

(Photos: Strait, Green, Peckham and King-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images; Trottier and Caufield-Penguins Hockey Cards)