Empty Netter Assists - 10-16-12
Penguins
-"I don't get into that too much because if I was a fan, I'd be mad at everybody." - Craig Adams on the public relations battle between the NHL and NHLPA.
-The NHL has hired Republican strategist Frank Luntz to craft the league's message during the lockout.
-Ex-Penguins goaltender Brent Johnson (right) is working out with his former teammates at Iceoplex.
-Former Penguins forward/broadcaster/coach Ed Olczyk was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame along with former North Stars/StarsRed Wings forward Mike Modano and Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello.
-The NHL and NHLPA will resume negotiations today.
-NHLPA members have received escrow checks this week.
-Evgeni Malkin had a goal and an assist for Metallurg Magnitogorsk in a 3-2 win against Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the KHL.
-Highlights:
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-Happy 47th birthday to former Penguins forward German Titov. Acquired in the 1998 offseason along with Todd Hlushko in a deal which sent Ken Wregget and Dave Roche to the Flames, Titov spent parts of two seasons in Pittsburgh. In 1998-99, Titov appeared in 72 games, recorded 56 points and led the team with a plus-18. In that spring's playoffs, Titov saw action in 11 games and contributed eight points. After 63 games and 42 points in 1999-2000, Titov was traded to the Oilers in exchange for Josef Beranek. In 135 regular season games for the Penguins, Titov scored 98 points, 87th-most in franchise history.
-Happy 40th birthday to former Penguins defenseman Darius Kasparaitis (right). Acquired early in the 1996-97 season along with Andreas Johansson in a deal which sent Bryan Smolinski to the Islanders, "Kasper" spent parts of six seasons in Pittsburgh. He finished 1996-97, by appearing in 57 games and scored 18 points. He played in all five of the team's playoff games that spring and failed to record a point. In 1997-98, Kasparaitis saw action in a career-high 81 games and scored 12 points. The 1998 playoffs once again saw him play in five games and fail to net a point. He was limited to 48 games and five points in the 1998-99 season. Kasparaitis rebounded in 1999-2000 by appearing in 73 games and scoring 15 points. He would see action in 11 games and contribute two points in 2000 postseason. He came through with another solid effort in 2000-01 by playing in 77 contests and contributing 19 points. Perhaps his career highlight came in the 2001 postseason, while playing in 17 games, Kasparaitis compiled two points including the series-clinching overtime goal in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal against the Sabres (below). After 69 games and 14 points in 2001-02, Kasparaitis was dealt at the trade deadline to the Avalanche in exchange for Ville Niemenen and Rick Berry. One of the most popular players in franchise history, Kasparaitis appeared in 405 games for the Penguins (24th-most in franchise history), scored 83 points and recorded 661 penalty minutes (11th-most). In 38 postseason games, he scored four points. He is currently an assistant coach for SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL.
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-Happy 57th birthday to former Penguins forward Wilf Paiement. A free agent signing in the 1987 offseason, Paiment's career with the Penguins amounted to 23 games and eight points in 1987-88. He was not re-signed in the 1988 offseason.
Northeast Division
-“Guys like me and [Bruins forward Gregory Campbell] are built like Greek gods, so we don’t really need to go anywhere else to play.” - Bruins forward Brad Marchand joking about potentially playing in Europe.
-“It would be selfish of us just to take a deal to get a paycheque and hurt the guys that are going to be coming up and playing the game in future years.” - Senators defenseman Chris Phillips on negotiations between the NHL and NHLPA.
-Senators goaltender Ben Bishop has signed an AHL contract with the Binghamton Senators. Binghamton is Ottawa's AHL affiliate.
-Sabres forward Corey Tropp will miss the rest of the season following knee surgery.
Southeast Division
-Panthers forward Mike Santorelli has joined Tingsryd of Sweden's Allsvenskan for the duration of the lockout.
-Florida forward Tomas Kopecky has joined HK Dukla Trencin of Slovakia's Extraliga for the duration of the lockout.
Central Division
-Red Wings forward Cory Emmerton suffered a broken finger last week while playing for SaiPa of Finland's SM-liiga.
Northwest Division
-Oilers forward Sam Gagner (right) has joined Klagenfurter AC of Austria's EBEL for the duration of the lockout.
Pacific Division
-Coyotes forward Kyle Chipchura has joined the Arizona Sundogs of the CHL for the duration of the lockout.
-Sharks defenseman Brian Boyle says the lockout could shut his team's window of opportunity for the Stanley Cup.
(Photos: Johnson-Dale MacMillan/Getty Images; Kasparaitis-Rick Stewart/Getty Images; Gagner-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)