Empty Netter Assists - 07-25-12
Penguins
-Remembering Zbynek Michalek.
-Happy 31st birthday to former Penguins forward Jani Rita (above). Acquired along with Cory Cross midway through the 2005-06 season in a trade which sent Dick Tarnstrom to the Oilers, Rita's Penguins' career amounted to 30 games and seven points the rest of that campaign. Since the 2006-07 season, he has played for Jokerit Helsinki of the SM-liiga in Finland.
-Happy 48th birthday to current Penguins assistant coach Tony Granato.
Atlantic Division
-It didn't take the NHL Store in New York long to start selling Rick Nash Rangers jerseys:
Northeast Division
-Bruins forward Nathan Horton, who missed the final 36 games of the past regular season due to a concussion, is expectd to make a full recovery in time for the start of the next regular season. Defenseman Adam McQuaid, who suffered a concussion in the postseason, is expected to be ready as well.
Southeast Division
-Eric and Jordan Staal showed off their new matching Hurricanes jerseys at Bauer's professional camp:
-The Hurricanes re-signed unrestricted free agent defenseman Jay Harrison to a three-year contract worth a total of $4.5 million. He will have a salary cap hit of $1.5 million. In 72 games last season, Harrison, 29, scored 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists).
-EN Says: Harrison is a physical No. 5 or 6 defenseman who play a reliable 18 minutes a night for you. Despite some good size (6-foot-4, 211 pounds), he's not exceptionally physical and can get overwhelmed by speed. He's mostly a stay at home positional type of blue-liner.
-The Hurricanes re-signed unrestricted free agent forward Zach Boychuck to a one-year two-way contract.
Central Division
-"Other teams will now know the Predators will do everything possible to retain its own star players and cannot be viewed as a franchise that can be raided.” - Predators chairman Tom Cigarran on the franchise's decision to match a $110 million offer sheet captain Shea Weber (right) signed with the Flyers last week.
-The Predators re-signed restricted free agent forward Colin Wilson to a three-year contract worth a total of $6 million. He will have a salary cap hit of $2 million. Wilson, 22, appeared in 65 games last season and scored 35 points (15 goals, 20 assists).
-EN Says: This is an intriguing player. Wilson, the Predators' first round in pick (No. 7 overall) in 2008, is on the verge of becoming a consistent 20-goal threat. He has some solid size (6-foot-1, 210 pounds), decent speed and solid touch with the puck. Injuries and inconsistency derailed his season a bit. If he can overcome that latter issue, he'll be a regular 20-goal threat.
-The Blue Jackets signed defenseman Ryan Murray, the second overall pick in last month's draft, to a three-year entry-level contract.
Northwest Division
-Former Panthers defenseman Joe Callahan has joined the Abbotsford Heat, the Flames' AHL affiliate.
Pacific Division
-Ducks forward Saku Koivu carried the Olympic Torch in London.
Norris Division
-Former Senators forward Roman Wick has joined ZSC of Switerland's NLA.
(Photos: Rita-Mike Stobe/Getty Images; Nash-@RangersGal; Staals-@BauerHockey; Weber-Jeff Gross/Getty Images)