Vacation post - 08-09-12
-Happy 50th birthday to former Penguins defenseman Jim Johnson (right). A free agent signing in the 1985 offseason, Johnson spent parts of six seasons with the Penguins. As a rookie in 1985-86, Johnson saw action in 80 games and scored 29 points. In 1986-87, Johnson once again played in 80 games and scored a career-high 30 points. Johnson was limited to 55 points and 13 points in 1987-88. He rebounded in 1988-89 by playing in 76 games and scored 16 points while helping the team reach the postseason for the first time in seven years. In those playoffs, he contributed five assists in 11 games. He would appear in 75 games and scored 16 points in 1989-90. After 24 games and five assists in 1990-91, Johnson was part of one of the best trades in franchise history when he sent to the North Stars along with Chris Dahlquist for Larry Murphy and Peter Taglianetti. Ironically enough, Johnson and Dahlquist would lose to the Penguins in that season's Stanley Cup Final. In 390 games with the Penguins, Johnson scored 109 points, 76th-most in franchise history. He is currently a coach with the Sharks.
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-Happy 51st birthday to former Penguins forward Andy Brickley. Acquired along with Ron Flockhart, Mark Taylor and draft picks in a deal which sent Rich Sutter and draft picks to the Flyers early in the 1983-84 season, Brickley parts of two seasons in Pittsburgh. In 50 games in 1983-84, Brickely scored 38 points. The 1984-85 season saw Brickley appear in 45 games and score 22 points. In the 1986 offseason, he signed with the Devils as a free agent. In 95 games with the Penguins, Brickley scored 50 points. He currently works as a television broadcaster with the Bruins and NBC Sports.
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-Happy 60th birthday to former Penguins forward Harvey Bennett. A free agent signing in the 1974 offseason, Bennett parts of two seasons in Pittsburgh. In 1974-75, Bennett appeared in seven games and was held without a point. The 1975-75 season saw him appear in 25 games and score six points. Midway through that campaign, he was traded to the Capitals in exchange for Stan Gilbertson. In 32 games with the Penguins, he scored six points.
-Happy 34th birthday to former Penguins defenseman Pavel Skrbek. A second-round pick in 1996, Skrbeck's Penguins' career amounted to four games in and no points in 1998-99. At the 2000 trade deadline, he was dealt to the Predators in exchange for Bob Boughner. Skrbek is currently a member of Luleå of Sweden's Elitserien.
(Photo: Penguins Hockey Cards)