Empty Netter Assists - 09-20-12

Penguins

-In case you're wondering how serious the lockout out is, to the right is what the hallway to the Penguins' regular dressing room at Southpointe looks like:

-The NHL canceled part of the preseason through the end of the September. The Penguins will lose four games:

Sept. 24 - at Blue Jackets
Sept. 26 - vs. Red Wings
Sept. 29 - vs. Blue Jackets
Sept. 30 - at Blackhawks

-The Penguins were scheduled to give away free tickets to youth players for the Sept. 29th game.

-According to agent Pat Brisson, it could cost his client, Sidney Crosby, $200,000 to $400,000 a month to insure part of his new contract with the Penguins.

-The Penguins have put their season ticket payment plan on hold until the lockout is resolved. The next payment was due Oct. 1.

-Jonathan Bombulie of the Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice catches up with forward prospect Adam Payerl.

-How important are younger players for the NHLPA in the lockout?

-The NHL will reduce employees' salaries to 80 percent during the lockout.

Atlantic Division

-Devils defenseman Marek Zidlicky (right) has joined HC Kladno of the Czech Extraliga for the duration of the lockout.

Northeast Division

-“I didn’t even give it a second’s thought when they asked me to come here. I was like, this is perfect for me." - Former Penguins forward Colby Armstrong on joining the Canadiens as a free agent this offseason.

-"You can see he's very honest, straightforward, and he puts it in a way that I think everyone can understand it. That will help a lot for guys to stay together because he explains it in a way - I know a little bit more about it, but the numbers still get complicated. You get dizzy at one point. Don does a good thing where he keeps everyone informed in a good, smart way, and I think that helps us out a lot." - Sabres forward Thomas Vanek on NHLPA leader Donald Fehr.

Southeast Division

-Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin officially joined Dynamo Moskva of Russia's KHL for the duration of the lockout.

-“Of course, I said it before, before I sign contract, that if the league decides to cut our salaries, cut our contracts for what they want, I don’t know how many guys are coming back. We sign contract before. Why they have to cut our salary and our contracts right now? They sign us. [Now they] want to cut it. I think it’s a stupid idea and stupid decision by NHL, [Commissioner Gary] Bettman and the guys who work there.” - Ovechkin.

Central Division

-"There are definitely changes that have to be made in how I go about my time away from the rink. I feel like I've been better in that situation and it's something I'm looking to get better in. At the end of the day, the main thing I love to do is play hockey. That becomes more important than those other things off the ice." - Patrick Kane (right) on his well-publicized social life.

-Members of the Blue Jackets' front office will be taking on a reduced salary during the lockout.

Northwest Division

-Canucks defenseman and would-be Penguin Dan Hamhuis is trying to improve his skating.

Pacific Division

-Ducks defenseman Luca Sbisa has joined Lugano of Switzerland's NLA for the duration of the lockout.

-The Stanley Cup is scheduled to be engraved today with the names of the Kings.

Smythe Division

-"In hindsight, it wasn't worth it. It was a waste of time. We thought we were stronger than we were. We started falling apart as the months clicked by." - Former North Stars/Stars/Red Wings forward Mike Modano (right) on the 2004-05 lockout.

-Flyers goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov and Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk have joined CSKA Moskva of Russia's KHL for the duration of the lockout.

-Bruins defenseman/ex-Penguin Andrew Ference and Blue Jackets defenseman Radek Martinek have joined HC Ceske Budejovice of the Czech Extraliga for the duration of the lockout.

(Photos: Southpointe-@emptynetters; Zidlicky-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images; Kane-Christian Petersen/Getty Images; Modano-Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)