Empty Netter Assists - 10-02-12
Penguins
-Regular season games are next on the lockout chopping block.
-Sidney Crosby (above) is training in Vail, Colo. with Avalanche forward Matt Duchene and other NHLers.
-Evgeni Malkin was held without a point for Metallurg Magnitogorsk in a 2-1 shootout loss to CSKA Moskow in the KHL.
-Mario Lemieux dropped the puck for a ceremonial faceoff prior to the Johnstown Tomahawks' inaugural home game Saturday:
-The NHL and NHLPA are scheduled to resume negotiations today and are expected to address the major issue of hockey related revenue.
-Happy 66th birthday to former Pittsburgh Hornets and Penguins defenseman Doug Barrie. Acquired prior to the 1968-69 season in a deal which sent cash to the Red Wings, Barrie's Penguins career amounted to eight games and two points that campaign. After spending the entire 1969-70 season with the Baltimore Clippers of the AH, Barrie was claimed by the Sabres in the 1970 expansion draft.
-Happy 28th birthday to former Penguins forward Jonathan Filewich. A third-round pick in 2006, Filewich's entire NHL career amounted to five games and no points with the Penguins in 2007-08. Midway through the 2008-09 season, he was traded to the Blues for future considerations.
-Happy 55th birthday to former Penguins defenseman Gordie Roberts (right). Acquired prior to the 1990-91 season in a deal which sent a draft pick to the Blues, Roberts spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins. In 1990-91, Roberts appeared in 61 games and contributed 18 points. In that spring's postseason, Roberts appeared in all 24 of the team's games, recorded three points and helped the franchise claim its first Stanley Cup title. Roberts played in 73 games in 1991-92 and scored 24 points. In the 1992 playoffs, Roberts saw action in 19 games and recorded two assists as the team successfully defended the Stanley Cup. In the 1992 offseason, he joined the Bruins as a free agent. In 134 regular season games with the Penguins, Roberts scored 39 points. In 43 postseason games with the franchise, he scored five points. In 1999, Roberts was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.
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-Happy 49th birthday to former Penguins forward Tim Hrynewich. A second-round pick in 1983, Hrynewich spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins. As a rookie in 1982-83, Hrynewich appeared in 30 games and scored five points. In 1983-84, he played in 25 games and contributed nine points. Prior to the 1985-86 season, Hrynewich was traded to the Oilers along with Marty McSorley and Craig Muni in exchange for Gilles Meloche. In 55 games with the Penguins, Hrynewich scored 14 points.
Atlantic Division
-Devils forward Krys Barch admitted his Saturday night Twitter rant was partially fueled by alcohol.
-New Jersey senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg wrote a letter to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA head Donald Fehr calling for a quick resolution to the lockout.
Northeast Division
-Sabres forward Thomas Vanek (right) is expected to join the Graz 99ers of Austria's EBEL for the duration of the lockout.
-"I worry more about the guys that are, after a month or so, just playing a little bit of shinny hockey and practicing a little bit. It's tough to stay sharp. You don't have that physical challenge. You don't have the challenge of elite players playing against you, and I think those players have a bigger challenge than those guys that are going and playing." - Sabres coach Lindy Ruff on locked out NHLers not playing during the lockout.
-Maple Leafs defenseman Cody Franson has joined Brynäs of Sweden's Elitserien for the duration of the lockout.
Central Division
-Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky has signed a professional tryout agreement with the ECHL's Alaska Aces.
Northwest Division
-Since he's still recovering from offseason shoulder and wrist surgeries, Canucks forward Ryan Kesler (right) still has access to the team's facilities during the lockout.
Pacific Division
-Former Jets forward Kenndal McArdle has signed a professional tryout contract with the Norfolk Admirals, the Ducks' AHL affiliate.
Smythe Division
-Hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky believes the lockout will be resolved by Jan. 1.
(Photos: Crosby-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images; Roberts-Penguins Hockey Cards; Vanek-Dave Sandford/Getty Images; Kesler-Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)