Empty Netter Assists - 09-26-12

Written by Seth Rorabaugh on Wednesday, 26 September 2012 7:30 am.

Penguins

-Eric Tangradi is expected to sign an AHL deal with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for the duration of the lockout.

-The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins' training camp opens Thursday.

-Several NHLers, including Paul Martin, were kicked off a rink at St. Louis Park (Minn.) Rec Center by a figure skating instructor.

-The NHL and NHLPA are scheduled to resume negotiations Friday.

-Money isn't the only issue the NHL and NHLPA need to hash out.

-Former Penguins forward Joe Dziedzic was hired as head coach of the Minneapolis Public Schools district's boys varsity hockey program.

-Happy 32st birthday to current Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik (right). A first-round pick in 2000, Orpik has spent parts of seven seasons with the Penguins. As a rookie in 2002-03, Orpik appeared in seven games and was held without a point. His first full season in the NHL was 2003-04. He played in 79 games, scored 10 points and led the team with 127 penalty minutes. Following the 2004-05 lockout, Orpik played in 64 games, netted nine points and once again led the team with 124 penalty minutes. The 2006-07 season saw Orpik appear in 70 games and record six assists. Oprik played in five postseason games that spring and failed to record a point. In 2007-08, Orpik dressed for 78 games and scored 11 points. In that spring's postseason, appeared in all 20 games and recorded two assists. After re-signing in the offseason, Orpik played in 79 games in 2008-09 and netteded 19 points. In the playoffs, Orpik played in 24 games, contributed four assists and helped the Penguins win the Stanley Cup for the third time in franchise history. In 2009-09, Orpik appeared in 73 games and scored a career-high 25 points. During that postseason, he recorded two assists in 13 games. Orpik appeared in 63 games in 2010-11 and contributed 13 points. In that spring's postseason, he recorded three assists. Last season, Orpik appeared in 73 games and collected 18 points. In the postseason, he played in six games and failed to record a point. Orpik has appeared in 585 regular season games with the Penguins, seventh-most in franchise history, has scored 111 points (74th-most), and has 656 penalty minutes (13th-most). In 75 postseason games, he has recorded 11 assists.

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-Happy 33rd birthday to current Penguins forward Chris Kunitz. Acquired midway through the 2008-09 season along with Eric Tangradi in a deal which sent Ryan Whitney to the Ducks, Kunitz has spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins. He finished the 2008-09 campaign by appearing in 20 games and scoring 18 points. In that spring's postseason, Kunitz saw action in all 24 games, scored 14 points and helped the franchise win the Stanley Cup for the third time. Injuries limited Kunitz to 50 games and 32 points in 2009-10. During the 2010 playoffs, Kunitz played in 13 games and scored 11 points. In 2010-11, Kunitz appeared in 66 games and scored 48 points. During that postseason, he contributed one goal. Last season, Kunitz appeared in all 82 games and set career-highs in goals (26) and points (61). In this past spring's postseason, he scored six points in six games. Having played in 136 regular season games with the Penguins, Kunitz has scored 159 points, 50th-most in franchise history. In 43 postseason games, he has scored 32 points, 14th-most in franchise history.

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