Empty Netter Assists - 10-10-12
Penguins
-Being a first-round pick doesn't guarantee a roster spot in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for Joe Morrow.
-“Ultimately, you come to be a better hockey player. You can practice all you want, but you have to get in game shape and game situations. Talked to management and felt it was probably good for me. If the need arose where we went back playing hockey up in Pittsburgh, I’d be able to make the transition if that’s where they want me. That’s why I’m here, working on my game. I think I’m the oldest guy here, but I can still work on a few different things.” - Steve MacIntyre (right) on why he opted to sign an AHL contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
-The lockout is weighing heavily on the mind of Scott Harrington.
-Penguins management is spending some time with the Wheeling Nailers.
-What happened to the Nailers' goal horn?
-Former Penguins defenseman Richard Lintner has joined SHK 37 Piestany of the Slovakian Extraliga.
-The NHL and NHLPA will resume talks today.
-NHLPA head Donald Fehr is starting to throw around "Maybe we'll start going after the salary cap" threats.
-Happy 66th birthday to former Pittsburgh Hornets and Penguins forward Pete Mahovlich (right). Acquired early in the 1977-78 season along with Peter Lee in a deal which sent Pierre Larouche and future considerations to the Canadiens, Mahovlich spent two seasons in Pittsburgh. In 1977-78, he saw action in 57 games and finished second on the team with 61 points. That season, he actually recorded a hat trick in his first game with the team, a 6-4 win against the Red Wings. He followed that up in 1978-79 by playing in 60 games and netting 53 points. In that spring's postseason, Mahovlich appeared in two games and recorded one assist. During the 1979 offseason, Mahovlich was traded to the Red Wings in exchange for Nick Libett. In 117 regular season games for the Penguins, Mahovlich scored 114 points, 70th-most in franchise history. He is currently a professional scout for the Panthers.
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-Happy 52nd birthday to former Penguins forward Ron Flockhart. Acquired prior to the 1983-84 season along with Andy Brickley, Mark Taylor and draft picks in a deal which sent Rich Sutter and draft picks to the Flyers, Flockhart spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins. In 1983-84, he appeared in 68 games and scored 45 points. After 12 games and five assists in 1984-85, Flockhart was traded to the Canadiens in exchange for John Chabot. in 70 games with the Penguns, Flockhart scored 50 points.
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-Happy 40th birthday to former Penguins forward Brian Holzinger. Acquired at the 2003 trade deadline in a deal which sent Marc Bergevin to the Lightning, Holzinger spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins. He finished the 2002-03 season by appearing in nine games and scoring three points for the Penguins. In 2003-04, Holzinger saw action in 61 games and scored 21 points. At the 2004 trade deadline, Holzinger was traded to the Blue Jackets in exchange for Lasse Pirjeta. One of six natives of Ohio to play for the Penguins (Ab DeMarco, Moe Mantha, Ian Moran, Mike Rupp and Bryan Smolinski were the others), Holzinger played in 70 games for the Penguins and scored 24 points. Holzinger is also one of four former Hobey Baker Award winners to play for the Penguins. Brian Bonin, Jordan Leopold and Kip Miller are the others.
-Happy 50th birthday to former Penguins goaltender Roberto Romano. A free agent signing midway through the 1982-83 season, Romano spent parts of six seasons with the Penguins in two seperate stints. As a rookie in 1982-83, he saw action in three games - all losses - and had a 6.97 goals against average. In 1983-84, Romano appeared in 18 games, had a 6-11-0 record, a 4.59 goals against average, a .876 save percentage and one shutout. Platooning with Denis Herron in 1984-85, Romano played in 31 games, went 9-17-2, had a 4.42 goals against average, .877 save percentage and one shutout. Romano's only season as the team's primary starter was 1985-86. He played in 46 games, had a 21-20-3 record, a 3.55 goals against average, .886 save percentage and two shutouts. After 25 games, a 9-12-2 record, a 3.72 goals against average and .876 save percentage in 1986-87, Romano was traded to the Bruins in exchange for Pat Riggin. After bouncing around the AHL and Italy, Romano returned to the Penguins in 1993-94 by appearing in two games, going 1-0-1 with a 1.44 goals against average and .946 save percentage. He retired in the 1994 offseason. In 125 games with the Penguins, Romano was 46-62-8 with a 3.96 goals against average and recorded four shutouts.
Atlantic Division
-Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov (right) has joined HC Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of Russia's KHL for the duration of the lockout.
-Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh has joined Barys Astana of Russia's KHL for the duration of the lockout.
-Islanders defenseman Andrew MacDonald has joined HC Karlovy Vary of the Czech Extraliga for the duration of the lockout.
Central Division
-Blue Jackets forward and Plum native (No, really!) R.J. Umberger will work as an assistant coach with his alma mater, Ohio State, during the lockout.
-Long-time Red Wings public address announcer Budd Lunch passed away. He was 95. Lynch had served as public address announcer since 1985. Before that, he served as the Red Wings' radio play-by-play voice dating back to 1949.
-EN Says: Lynch was an integral part of the 2008 and 2009 Stanley Cup Finals for us. His voice had a chilling but calming effect, if such a thing is possible. His seemingly perfectly delivery for everything from the national anthem to visiting goal announcements brought a sense of order to a rocking, chaotic scene at Joe Louis Arena.
Northwest Division
-Wild coach and former Penguins assistant Mike Yeo has taken up boxing during the lockout.
Pacific Division
-Ducks forward Matt Beleskey has joined Coventry Blaze of England's EIHL for the duration of the lockout.
Adams Division
-Former Blackhawks/Sabres/Red Wings/Senators goaltender Dominik Hasek (right), 47, officially retired for the third time.
-Former Coyotes/Jets forward Brett MacLean officially retired. MacLean, 23, suffered a heart attack this past summer.
-Former Lightning defenseman Janne Niskala and former Maple Leafs defenseman Jonas Frogen have joined Dinamo Minsk of Russia's KHL.
(Photos: MacIntyre-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images; Mahovlich-Penguins Hockey Cards; Volchenkov-Nick Laham/Getty Images; Hasek-Doug Pensinger/ALLSPORT/Getty Images)