Empty Netter Assists - 07-28-12
Penguins
-Flyers forward Claude Giroux claims he needed surgery on both his wrists this offseason due to Sidney Crosby (above) slashing him on faceoffs in the playoffs.
-Don't expect Crosby to talk about it anytime soon. (PG+)
-Remembering Steve Sullivan.
-The Wheeling Nailers re-sgined forward Matt Schepke.
-Happy 43rd birthday to former Penguins goaltender Garth Snow (right). A free agent signing just prior to the 2000-01 season, Snow's Penguins career amounted to 35 games hat season in which he went 14-15-4 with a 2.98 goals against average, .900 save percentage and three shutouts. Easily the highlight of his season was a 40-save effort in a 5-0 shutout of the Maple Leafs. Snow probably would've been the first star of the game had it not been for some guy making his season debut that night. In the 2001 offseason, Snow was signed by the Islanders. He is currently the Islanders' general manager.
Atlantic Division
-The Devils re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Matt Corrente to a one-year two-way contract.
Northeast Division
-The Senators officially bought out the remainder of forward Bobby Butler's contract.
Southeast Division
-Hurricanes forward and former Penguin Jordan Staal met the media in Raleigh the first time since being traded to Carolina last month:
-Staal also shot this promo video:
-“I think I look pretty good in red.” - Staal.
-The Jets signed defenseman Tobias Enstrom to a five-year contract extension worth a total of $28.75 million. He will have a salary cap hit of $5.75 million when the contract begins in 2013-14. Entering the final year of a contract with cap hit of $3.75 million, Enstrom, 27, appeared in 62 games last season and scored 33 points (six goals, 27 assists).
-EN Says: A one-time all-star, Enstrom is a defenseman who is capable of logging tons of minutes and plays in all situations. He has a ton of skill offensively. He can move the puck, skate, pass and has a solid shot. Defensively, he relies on positioning more than anything else. At 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, he is hardly a physical force. This might seem like a slightly high price tag for Enstrom, but he's a legit top-pairing defenseman.
Central Division
-The Predators will put single-game tickets on sale Aug. 4. The Penguins play in Nashville, Oct. 20.
Northwest Division
-The Flames re-signed restricted free agent goaltender Leland Irving (right) to a one-year tow-way contract.
Pacific Division
-The Kings officially hired former Blues head coach Davis Payne as an assistant coach.
Norris Division
-Former Oilers forward Ryan O'Marra has joined Pelicans of Finland's SM-liiga.
(Photos: Crosby/Giroux and Giroux-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images; Snow-Rick Stewart/Allsport/Getty Images)