Empty Netter Assists - 07-19-12

Penguins

-Former Penguins forward Chris Minard (right) has joined Kölner Haie of Germany's DEL.

-Happy 50th birthday to former Penguins defenseman Craig Muni. Originally acquired from the Sabres in exchange for cash Oct. 3, 1986, Muni was traded to the Oilers three days later to complete a deal which brought Gilles Meloche to the Penguins. Muni came back to the Penguins as a free agent prior to the 1996-97 season. He would appear in 64 games that campaign and recorded four assists. In the 1997 offseason, he joined the Stars as a free agent.

-Happy 35th birthday to former Penguins goaltender Jean-Sebastien Aubin. A third-round pick in 1995, Aubin spent parts of six seasons with the Penguins. When Tom Barrasso struggled with injuries in 1998-99, Aubin made his NHL debut by appearing in 17 games and sporting a 4-3-6 record with a 2.22 goals against average, .908 save percentage and two shutouts. The 1999-2000 season was Aubin's finest in the NHL as he appeared in a team-high and career-high 51 games while going 23-21-3 with a 2.58 goals against average, .914 save percentage and two shutouts. During the team's memorable 2000-01 season, Aubin (right) platooned most of the campaign with Garth Snow as he played in 36 games and had a record of 20-14-1 with a 3.13 goals against average and .890 save percentage. Aubin was relegated to back-up duty behind new starter Johan Hedberg in 2001-02 as he only saw action in 21 games and had a dreadful 3-12-1 record with a 3.56 goals against average and .879 save percentage. Aubin served as the team's third goaltender in 2002-03 behind Hedberg and rookie Sebastien Caron appearing in 21 games with a 6-13-0 record, 3.13. goals against average .900 saver percentage and one shutouts. Aubin's final season with the Penguins was 2003-04. He played in 22 games and had a record of 7-9-0 with a 2.98 goals against average, .908 save percentage and one shutout. During the 2004-05 NHL lockout, Aubin joined St. John's, Toronto's AHL affiliate. In 168 career games with the Penguins, Aubin had a record of 63-72-11, a 2.92 goals against average, .901 save percentage and six shutouts. His win and shutout marks are the fifth-best totals in franchise history. He is currently a member of Val Pusteria of Italy's Serie A league.

Atlantic Division

-According to TSN, the Flyers have signed restricted free agent defenseman Shea Weber (right) to a 14-year offer sheet worth a total of $100 million. The contract would have a salary cap hit of approximately $7.1 million. Weber, 26, appeared in 78 games last season for the Predators and scored 49 points (19 goals, 30 assists). The Predators have seven days to match the offer. If they decline, they could receive the Flyers' next four first-round draft picks as compensation.

-UPDATE: The contract is reported to be an offer of $110 million over 14 years. That would equate to a salary cap hit of approximately $7.8 million.

-EN Says: Wow. Just wow. There are so many things to say about this.

First, the Flyers never seem to let an offseaosn pass without making a big move. Last season, they traded their two franchise players - Jeff Carter and Mike Richards - in order to sign a franchise goaltender in Ilya Bryzgalov. In years past, they have made major splashes by bringing in the likes of Chris Pronger and Daniel Briere. This is another one of those gusty moves. Weber is a top-flight defenseman who is Norris Trophy-caliber. He's a difference maker.

Second, the Flyers have some issues on their blue line having lost Matt Carle in free agency. This would MORE than compesates for that loss. Additionally, this speaks volumes about the status of captain Chris Pronger who is still recovering from a concussion.

Third, how rare is it for a restricted free agent to be signed to an offer sheet? It happens very rarely in the NHL. The Flyers were one of the first teams to do it after the 2004-05 lockout when they signed Vancouver's Ryan Kesler in 2006. Since then, it's been limited to a relative few such as Dustin Penner, Thomas Vanek and Niklas Hjalmarsson. Restricted free agents just "don't" get signed by other teams, especially players of Weber's caliber.

Finally, what will the Predators do? Currently, they are approximately $14 million under the salary cap floor. Matching the offer would do quite a bit in terms of reaching that level. But for a franchise which has been slow to invest major money into any player, will it keep Weber or take the draft picks? After losing fellow defenseman Ryan Suter (right), losing Weber would be crippling in the short term. For what it's worth, Predators general manager David Poile has said his team would match any offer for Weber.

Fourth, what does this mean for the Penguins? If the Flyers add a major piece like this, do the Penguins need to respond to their rival with their own big move?

-The Islanders re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Ty Wishart to a one-year two-way contract.

-The Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Islanders' AHL affiliate, hired former Devils/Blues/Wild/Hurricanes/Bruins/Stars/Coyotes forward Scott Pellerin as head coach.

Northeast Division

-The Sabres signed forward Mikhail Grigorenko, a first-round pick in last month's draft (No. 12 overall), to a three-year entry-level contract.

-The Bruins signed forrmer Blue Jackets defenseman Aaron Johnson (right) to a one-year two-way contract.

-The Senators re-signed restricted free agent forward Jim O'Brien to a two-year contract worth a total of $1.275 million. He will have a salary cap hit of $637,500. In 28 games last season, O'Brien, 23, scored six points (three goals, three assists).

-EN Says: O'Brien is a former first-round pick (2007) who hasn't accomplishmed much at the NHL level. His saving grace is versatility to play multiple forward positions.

-The Senators re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Eric Gryba to a two-year two-way contract.

Southeast Division

-The Capitals hired former defenseman Calle Johansson as an assistant coach.

-The Syracuse Crunch, the Lightning's AHL affiliate, hired former North Stars/Sharks/Flyers/Maple Leafs/Predators/Capitals defenseman Rob Zettler as an assistant coach.

Central Division

-The Red Wings re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Kyle Quincey (right) to a two-year contract worth a total of $7.5 million. He will have a salary cap hit of $3.775 million. In 72 games last season, Quincey, 26, scored 26 points (seven goals, 19 assists).

-EN Says: With Nicklas Lidstrom retiring, Quincey will take on a larger role next season. He's always shown an ability to provide some offense but he needs to find some balance in his own zone.

Northwest Division

-Former Avalanche forward/enforcer/world thinker Scott Parker gave an interview to Avalanche blog Mile High Hockey in which he criticized former teammate Steve Moore, Harvard grad, for thinking he was better than anyone else, suggested he could bring someone educated down to his level by hitting them "four times in the skull," and said former Canucks forward Todd Bertuzzi "was dealt some bad cards" when he was suspended for breaking Moore's neck.

-EN Says: If we were Harvard educated, we'd know were were better than a caveman like Parker also.

Pacific Division

-Los Angeles County prosecutors declined to file sexual assault charges against Kings defenseman Drew Doughty (right). Doughty was investigated by Hermosa Beach police in connection with a sexual assault allegation.

-The Coyotes re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Chris Summers to a one-year contract. Financial terms were not reported.

Smythe Division

-Former Maple Leafs goaltender Justin Pogge has joined Ritten of Italy's Serie A league.

-Former Sharks/Flyers and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins forward Niko Dimitrakos has joined Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg of Germany's DEL.

(Photos: Minard and Quincey-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images; Aubin-Al Bello/Allsport/Getty Images; Weber-Justin K. Aller/Getty Images; Suter-Frederick Breedon/Getty Images; Johnson-Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images; Doughty-Jeff Gross/Getty Images)