Empty Netter Assists - 09-12-12
Penguins
-Sidney Crosby (above) joined some of his teammates for an informal workout at Iceoplex in Southpointe. Will there be a season for them to participate in?
-"I've been feeling 100 percent. It feels good to not have to think about that, and to work as hard as you want. It's been really good."- Crosby on his health.
-The NHL and NHLPA will hold negotiations today. The NHLPA is expected to hold a meeting as well with over 300 players.
-According to RDS, the Penguins have placed forward prospect Nick Petersen on waivers. A fourth-round pick in 2009, Petersen, 23, appeared in 54 games last season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and scored 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists).
-Jonathan Bombulie of the Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice catches up with Penguins forward prospect Jayson Megna.
Northeast Division
-The Bruins signed forward Tyler Seguin to a six-year contract extension worth a total of $34.5 million. Entering the final season of his entry-level contract with salary cap hit of $3.55 million, Seguin's new contract will have a salary cap hit of $5.75 million. Seguin, 20, appeared in 81 games last season and scored 67 points (29 goals, 38 assists).
-EN Says: Seguin improved dramatically last season and became a player you can rely on in clutch situations. He'll only get better. Having a player with as high of a ceiling as he has for only $5.75 is a bit of a steal.
Southeast Division
-"You're always optimistic, but at the same token, the players just aren't going to roll over. The last deal, we gave a lot of concessions and it was meant to fix and address problems the owners claimed were broken in the system. So, this was, in effect, their deal, and seven years later after all these revenues they're claiming the system is broken again because their plan that they claimed to work, didn't work." - Lightning forward and former Penguin Adam Hall (right) on a potential lockout.
-Panthers defenseman Erik Gudbranson underwent shoulder surgery.
-The Hurricanes re-signed restricted free agent forward Jeremy Welsh to a two-year two-way contract.
-The Jets re-signed restricted free agent forward Spencer Machacek. Terms of the contract were not reported. Machacek, 23, appeared in 13 NHL game last season and scored nine points (two goals, seven assists).
Central Division
-The Blackhawks signed former Penguins defenseman Michal Rozsival (right) to a one-year contract worth $2 million. Rozival, 34, appeared in 54 games last season with the Coyotes and scored 13 points (one goal, 12 assists).
-EN Says: At this stage of his career, Rozsival is a crafty veteran who is reliable in most situations. He has never been an overly physical player despite some solid size (6-foot-1, 212 pounds), but he knows how position himself on the ice well and still has a little offensive pop. He should be a more than adequate option for the Blackhawks as a No. 4 or 5 defenseman.
-"I don't know how realistic it is getting done by (Sept.) 15th. Both sides seem to be far apart, but with that said, there's some time here to get it done." - Blues forward Andy McDonald on a potential lockout.
Northwest Division
-"My five-year-old asked me, 'Is there going to be lockout, dad?' I was like, 'How do you even know what the word is?' It's no fun." - Wild forward Matt Cullen (right).
-“I’m optimistic that something can still get done, but at the same time, I’m a realist. I’m looking at (the Saturday deadline) and it is getting close. I know it only takes one good day of negotiations to get it settled, but it looks a little bit grey right now.” - Oilers forward Ryan Jones on a potential lockout.
-Canucks forward Daniel and Henrik Sedin said they would only consider playing in Europe this season if a potential lockout canceled the entire NHL season.
Pacific Division
-Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau almost lost his life Sept. 11, 2001.
Patrick Division
-Penn State unveiled its new hockey jerseys for its men's and women's teams:
-EN Says: We love these jersey. They have a basic, simple, classic look. They look like... you know... hockey jerseys. Someone alert Reebok.
(Photos: Crosby-Nick Laham/Getty Images; Seguin-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images; Hall, Rozisval and Cullen-Getty Images; Penn State-@PennStateMHKY)