Empty Netter Assists - 08-01-12
Penguins
-Happy 65th birthday to former all-star Penguins forward Syl Apps, Jr (right). Acquired along with Sheldon Kannegiesser in one of the best trades in franchise history midway through the 1970-71 season (Glen Sather went to the Rangers in exchange), Apps spent parts of eight seasons with the Penguins. Following the trade, Apps produced a respectable 25 points in 31 games for the Penguins. In his first full season in Pittsburgh in 1971-72, he led the team with 59 points in 72 games. Coach Red Kelly teamed Apps with Lowell MacDonald and Jean Pronovost to form the Century Line in 1972-73. Apps would lead the team with 85 points in 77 games that season. Apps once again produced 85 points in 75 games in 1973-74. Selected to his only all-star game in 1974-75, Apps scored 79 points in 79 games. His finest season came in 1975-76 when he scored a career-high 99 points in 80 games. Apps' numbers began to tumble in 1976-77 only scored 61 points in 72 contests. After only seven assists in nine games, Apps and Hartland Monahan were sent to the Kings in exchange for Dave Schultz, Gene Carr and a draft pick. Inducted into the Penguins' hall of fame in 1994, Apps played in 495 games with the team and scored 500 points (151 goals, 349 assists), ninth-most in franchise history. He was the team's single-season scoring leader three times. Only Mario Lemieux (10), Jaromir Jagr (six) and Sidney Crosby (four) have accomplished that feat more often. In 19 postseason games, he scored eight points.
-Happy 49th birthday to former Penguins goaltender Wendell Young (right). Originally acquired prior to the 1988-89 season when he was acquired from the Flyers along with a draft pick in exchange for another draft pick, Young spent parts of parts of five seasons over two stints in Pittsburgh. In 1988-89, Young appeared in 22 games and went 12-9-0 with a 4.80 goals against average and .863 save percentage. Young (right) would serve as the team's primary starter in 1989-90 by playing in 43 games and going 16-20-3 with a 4.17 goals against average, .873 save percentage and recorded the team's only shutout. Young would only see action in 18 games in 1990-91. He had a record of 4-6-2 with a 4.04 goal against average and .879 save percentage and eventually got his name on the Stanley Cup for the franchise's first championship. In 1991-92, Young once again played in 18 games. His record was 7-6-0 with a 3.89 goals against average and .889 save percentage and once again had his name engraved on the Cup. Claimed by the Lightning during the 1992 expansion draft, Young would spent parts of two seasons with that franchise before being traded back to the Penguins early in the 1994-95 season. In 10 games that campaign, Young went 3-6-0 with a 3.26 goals against average and .894 save percentage. In 111 games with the Penguins, Young had a 42-47-5 record with a 4.14 goal against average and .876 save percentage. He is currently the general manager of the Chicago Wolves, the Canucks' AHL affiliate.
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-Happy 73rd birthday to former Penguins forward Bob Rivard. Claimed from the Canadiens in the 1967 expansion draft, Rivard's NHL career amounted to 27 games and 15 points with the expansion Penguins in 1967-68. In the 1968 offseason, he was loaned to the Flyers in exchange for cash.
-The Wheeling Nailers re-signed forward Peter Lenes.
Northeast Division
-The Sabres re-signed restricted free agent forward to a three-year deal worth a total of $3.825 million. He will have a salary cap hit of $1.275 million. Kaleta, 26, appeared in 63 games last season, scored 10 points (five goals, five assists) and recorded 116 penalty minutes.
-EN Says: Kaleta is a world-class agitator. Combined with new acquisition Steve Ott, the Sabres are going to be a nasty team to play against next season.
-“You see players at 40 and 40-plus like (Jaromir) Jagr and (Teemu) Selanne, and maybe it’s a new trend that’s starting, that if you look after yourself and take care of yourself, you can play. Who knows what the limit is?" - Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson (right) on his decision to not retire.
-The Maple Leafs re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Mark Fraser to a one-year two-way contract.
Central Division
-The Red Wings signed forward Martin Frk, a second-round pick this summer, to a three-year entry-level contract.
Pacific Division
-How do the Coyote keep winning despite financial constraints?
(Photos: Apps, Jr.-Post-Gazette archives; Young-Penguins Hockey Cards; Alfredsson-Photobucket)