Empty Netter Assists - 07-30-12
Penguins
-Happy 56th birthday to former Penguins goaltender Greg Redquest. A fourth-round pick in the 1976 draft, Redquest's entire NHL career amounted to one game with the 1977-78 Penguins. He was released in the 1979 offseason.
-Happy 39th birthday to former Penguins forward Markus Naslund (right). A first-round pick in 1991, Naslund spent parts of three seasons with the Penguins. As a raw 20-year-old rookie in 1993-94, Naslund appeared in 71 games and scored 11 points. In 1994-95, Naslund was limited to 14 games and four points. In 1995-96, Naslund finally seemed to find his game by producing 52 points in 66 games, but at the trade deadline, he was dealt to the Canucks in exchange for Alex $&#$@! Stojanov. The trade is considered one of the worst in franchise history as Naslund developed into an all-star in Vancouver while Stojanov washed out after two seasons in Pittsburgh. In 151 games with the Penguins, Naslund scored 67 points.
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-Happy 42nd birthday to former Penguins forward Jeff Christian. A free agent signing in the 1994 offseason, Christian parts of three seasons with the Penguins. During that span, he only saw action in 15 games and scored four points. In the 1997 offseason, he signed with the Coyotes.
-Happy 27th birthday to former Penguins defenseman Alex Goligoski (right). A second-round pick in 2004, Goligoski spent parts of the four seasons with the Penguins. He had a brief three-game cup of coffee in 2007-08 which produced two assists. In 2008-09, with defenseman Sergei Gonchar sidelined due to a preseason shoulder injury, Goligoski was inserted into the lineup and responded well by producing 20 points in 45 games. After appearing in two postseason games during the team's Stanley Cup run that spring, Goligoski's name earned a spot on the Cup. During 2009-10, Goligoski appeared in 67 games and registered 37 points. He appeared in all 13 of the team's playoff games and contributed nine points. After 60 games and 31 points in 2010-11, Goligoski was dealt at the trade deadline in exchange for James Neal and Matt Niskanen. In 177 regular season games with the Penguins, Goligoski scored 90 points, 94th-most in franchise history. In 15 postseason games, Goligoski scored 10 points.
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Pacific Division
-Kings captain Dustin Brown used his day with the Stanley Cup to help benefit a charity for families of members of the United States military.
Norris Division
-Former Rangers/Maple Leafs/Coyotes forward Ryan Hollweg has joined HC Plzen of the Czech Extraliga.
(Photos: Naslund-Penguins Hockey Cards; Goligoski-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)