Empty Netter Assists - 09-21-12

Penguins

-Ray Shero (above) and company will keep busy during the lockout.

-"It was just a boring year for us. I was playing junior and I was trying to watch hockey. There wasn’t nothing to watch." - Kris Letang on how he spent the 2004-05 lockout as a fan.

-Evgeni Malkin and Senators defenseman/ex-Penguin Sergei Gonchar each recorded an assist for Magnitogorsk Mettalurg.

-Highlights:

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-If you want to see how complicated the collective bargaining agreement negotiaions are, check out this wonderful blog post by Hockey Night in Canada's Elliotte Friedman.

-Happy 48th birthday to former Penguins forward and current television broadcaster Bob Errey (right). A first-round pick in 1983 (No. 15 overall), "The Bibster" spent parts of ten seasons with the Penguins as a player. As a rookie in 1983-84, Errey played in 65 games and scored 22 points. After being limited to 16 games and two assists in 1984-85, Errey rebounded a bit in 1985-86 by appearing in 37 games and scoring 17 points. Errey broke through somewhat in 1986-87 when he saw action in 72 games and netted 34 points. Injuries limited him to 17 games and nine points in 1987-88. Errey's most prolific season was in 1988-89 when he played in 76 games and established career-highs in goals (26), assists (32) and points (58). He also helped the team reach the postseason for the first time in seven years. In 11 playoff games, he contributed three points. He followed that up in the 1989-90 by scoring 20 goals and 39 points in 78 games. In 1991-92, Errey played in 79 games and once again scored 20 goals while collecting 42 points overall. In the 1991 postseason, appeared in all 24 of the team's games, scored seven points and helped the franchise capture its first Stanley Cup title. He appeared in 78 games in 1991-92 and contributed 35 points. In the postseason, he was limited to 14 games and three goals, but collected a Stanley Cup ring for the second consecutive season. After 54 games and 14 points in 1992-93, Errey was dealt to the Sabres in exchange for Mike Ramsey. In 572 regular season games with the Penguins (ninth-most in franchise history), Errey scored 272 points, 26th-most in Penguins history. In 49 postseason games, he collected 13 points. After retiring as a player in 1999, Errey returned to Pittsburgh as a radio broadcaster and eventually became a color commentator for FSN Pittsburgh in 2003.

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-Happy 49th birthday to former Penguins forward Troy Loney. A third-round pick in 1982, Loney, considered one of the toughest players in franchise history, spent parts of 10 seasons with the Penguins. As a rookie in 1983-84, Loney saw action in 13 games and failed to score a point. He followed that up in 1984-85 by playing in 46 games and scoring 18 points. In 1985-86, Loney saw action in 47 games scored 12 points. Loney  would spent most of 1986-87 with the Penguins' AHL affiliate in Baltimore, but appeared in 23 NHL games and scored 15 points. He would break through in 1987-88 by playing in 65 games, netting 18 points and recording 151 penalty minutes. In 1988-89, he appeared in 69 games, scored 16 points and recorded 165 penalty minutes. In that spring's postseason, Loney played in 11 game and contributed four points. Loney would reach a career-high in points (26) and penalty minutes (168) after appearing in 67 games in 1989-90. Loney was limited to 44 games and 16 points in the 1990-91 regular season, but in the postseason, he appeared in all 24 games, scored four points and got his name on the Stanley Cup. He rebounded in 1991-92 as he saw action in 76 games, scored 26 points and racked up 127 penalty minutes. He once against played in every postseason game (21) and chipped in nine points as the team won the Cup for the second consecutive season. Loney would establish a career-high in 1992-93 by playing in 82 games and recorded 21 points. In 10 playoff games that spring, he recorded five points. During the 1993 offseason, he was claimed by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the expansion draft. In 532 games with the Penguins (12th-most in franchise history), Loney scored 169 points (44th-most) and recorded 980 penalty minutes (second-most). In 66 playoff games with the Penguins, Loney scored 22 points (25th-most).

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-Happy 50th birthday to former Penguins defenseman Gord Dineen. Acquired midway through the 1988-89 season along with Scott Bjugstad in a deal which sent Ville Siren and Steve Gotaas to the Minnesota North Stars, Dineen spent parts of four seasons with the Penguins. He finished 1988-89 by appearing in 38 games for the Penguins and contributing three points. In 11 postseason games that spring, Dineen recorded two assists. In 1989-90, Dineen played in 69 games and scored nine points. Injuries limited him nine games in 1990-91 and one contest in 1991-92. He failed to record a point in either season. In the 1992 offseason, he joined the expansion Ottawa Senators as a free agent. In 117 regular season games with the Penguins, Dineen scored 12 points. He currently serves as an assistant coach with the Toronto Marlies, the Maple Leafs' AHL affiliate.

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Atlantic Division

-Flyers captain Chris Pronger visited a Pittsburgh doctor and showed signs of improvement in his recovery from a concussion he suffered last season.

Northeast Division

-"They claim teams are struggling financially and player salary restriction is the only way to address the inevitable disasters. It is hard to trust the owners when it is the same story after years of documented growth and increasing revenue.” - Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller.

-Bruins forward Tyler Seguin is expected to join Biel of Switzerland's NLA for the duration of the lockout.

-Canadiens defenseman Tomas Kaberle (right) has joined HC Kladno of the Czech Extraliga for the duration of the lockout.

Southeast Division

-The lockout could cost the Lightning an opportunity to market its 20th anniversary.

Central Division

-Columbus defenseman Sergei Bobrovsky has joined SKA St. Petersburg of Russia's KHL for the duration of the lockout.

-Blue Jackets defenseman Artem Anisimov has joined Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of Russia's KHL for the duration of the lockout.

-Red Wings forward Tomas Tatar has joined SHK 37 Piestany of the Slovakian Extraliga fr the duration of the lockout.

-Predators defenseman Roman Josi has joined Bern of Switzerland's NLA for the duration of the lockout.

Northwest Division

-On account of his family, Flames captain Jarome Iginla (right) will not play in Europe during the lockout.

-Flames forward Jiri Hudler has joined HC Lev Praha of Russia's KHL for the duration of the lockout.

-Oilers forward Taylor Hall is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.

-Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom is dealing with a minor ankle injury.

Pacific Division

-"I feel it's getting stronger and better as we go along, and I've been skating for a month now and feeling pretty good," Michalek said. "I'm not quite there yet, but I think it's on the right way." - Coyotes defenseman and former Penguin Zbynek Michalek on his recovery from offseason hip surgery.

-Kings executive and former Penguins forward Luc Robitaille took the Stanley Cup home to Norbertville, Quebec for a visit with is ailing mother.

-Ducks defenseman and former Penguin Nate Guenin has signed an AHL-only deal with Anaheim's AHL affiliate in Norfolk for the duration of the lockout.

-Stars forward and former Penguins captain Jaromir Jagr has a new commerical in the Czech Republic for a gambling company which portrays him as a bartender:

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-Coyotes defenseman Rostislav Klesla has joined HC Trinec of the Czech Extraliga for the duration of the lockout.

Adams Division

-Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec and Oilers defenseman Ladislav Smid have joined Bili Tygri Liberec of the Czech Extraliga for the duration of the lockout.

-How has social media changed the public relations battle between the NHL and NHLPA?

-Seven years after he last played in the NHL, former Red Wings/Whalers/Hurricanes/Flyers forward Keith Primeau still suffers headaches as a result of concussions he sustained during his career.

(Photos: Shero-Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press; Errey and Loney-Penguins Hockey Cards; Kaberle-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images; Iginla-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)