Vacation post - 09-06-12

-Happy 59th birthday to former Penguins forward Wayne Bianchin (right). A second-round pick in 1973, Bianchin spent parts of seven seasons with the Penguins. As a rookie in 1973-74, Bianchin appeared in 69 games and contributed 25 points. After suffering a broken neck in a bodysurfing accident in the 1974 offseason, Bianchin was limited to two games in 1974-75 and failed to record a point. He rebounded slightly in 1975-76 and appeared in 14 games and netted six points but spent most of the season with the Penguins' AHL affiliate in Hershey. Bianchin broke through in 1976-77 by playing in 79 games and setting career-highs in goals (28) and points (34) while playing on a line with Blair Chapman and Greg Malone. He reached the postseason for the only time in his NHL career that spring and contributed one assist in three games. In 1977-78, Bianchin played in 61 games and scored 20 goals and 33 points. His final season with the Penguins was 1978-79. In 40 games, he netted 11 points. In the 1979 offseason, he was claimed by the Oilers in the expansion draft. In 265 games with the Penguins, Bianchin scored 109 points, 75th-most in franchise history.

-Today's Obligatory YouTube Post: Hockey Night in Canada's "hockey cards" segment following the Penguins' Stanley Cup win in 2009:

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(Photo: Penguins Hockey Cards)