Empty Netter Assists - 11-27-12

Penguins

-Sidney Crosby's (above) agent has begun talking to teams in Russia and Switzerland.

-The NHL and NHLPA will bring a federal mediator into negotiations.

-Mediation doesn't always guarantee a solution.

-One of the potential mediators was removed after several bizarre postings were discovered on his Twitter page.

-With 28 points in 18 games, Evgeni Malkin leads all locked-out NHLers in KHL scoring.

-Happy 80th birthday to former Penguins all-star forward, coach and executive Ken Schinkel. Claimed from the Rangers in the 1967 expansion draft, Schinkel spent parts of six seasons with the Penguins as a player. He appeared in 57 games for the Penguins during their inaugural season of 1967-68, scored 39 points and became the first player in franchise history to be selected to an all-star game. In 1968-69, Schinkel appeared in 76 games, recorded a team-leading 52 points and one again played in the all-star game. During, 1969-70, Schinkel, the first player to wear No. 12 in franchise history, saw action in 72 games, scored 45 points and helped the team reach the postseason for the first time. He also scored the first postseason hat trick in Penguins history when he netted three goals against the Oakland Seals in Game 3 of a quarterfinal series that spring. Schinkel was limited to 50 games and 34 points in 1970-71 but rebounded in 1971-72 when he played in 74 games and netted 45 points. After scoring 21 points in 42 games in 1972-73, Schinkel retired as a player Jan. 13 and replaced Red Kelly as head coach at age 40. Under Schinkel, the team had a 15-18-3 record and missed the postseason. The following season, Schinkel coached the team for 50 games and had a record of 14-31-5 before being replaced by Marc Boileau, Feb. 6, 1974. Schinkel assumed a front office position with the team and stayed in that position until he himself replaced Boileau, Jan. 17, 1976. Under Schinkel, the Penguins had a record of 20-10-7 and reached the postseason where they fell to the Maple Leafs in a preliminary round series, 2-1. Schinkel's only full season as the team's coach was 1976-77. The team went 34-33-13 and qualified for the postseason where it once again lost to the Maple Leafs in a preliminary round, 2-0. Schinkel was replaced by Johnny Wilson in the following offseason. Schinkel again took a front office position and remained with the team until 1989. In 371 regular season games with the Penguins as a player, "Schink" scored 236 points, 32nd-most in franchise history. In 13 postseason games, he scored seven points. As a coach, Schinkel compiled a record of 83-92-28.

-Happy 45th birthday to former Penguins forward Garry Valk. Acquired midway through the 1996-97 season in a trade which sent J.J. Daigneault to the Mighty Ducks, Valk spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins. He finished 1996-97 by appearing in 17 games for the Penguins and scoring seven points. In 1997-98, he saw action in 39 games and recorded three points. During the 1998 offseason, he joined the Maple Leafs as a free agent. Valk would get some measure of revenge on the Penguins in the 1999 postseason by scoring the series-clinching goal in overtime of Game 6 of an Eastern Conference semifinal (see below). In 56 regular season games with the Penguins, Valk scored 10 points.

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Northeast Division

-Senators forward Zack Smith has joined the Frederikshavn White Hawks of Denmark's ABL.

-"I’m mostly disappointed with the way that Gary (Bettman) has been treating the players. I’m not really getting the sense that (owners) are working with us. It should be a partnership." - Canadiens forward Lars Eller on the lockout.

Southeast Division

-"The whole thing is kind of so shady." - Lightning forward and former Penguin Ryan Malone on the NHL issuing a gag order on NHL owners during the lockout.

-Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec has joined Pelicans of Finland's SM-liiga.

-Panthers defenseman Erik Gudbranson resumed skating for the first time since undergoing shoulder surgery in September.

Central Division

-Blue Jackets forwards Derick Brassard (right) and Derek Dorsett have joined EC Red Bull of Austria's EBEL.

-“They're sick and tired of hearing the same crap coming out of both sides' mouths, and who can blame them. It's frustrating.'' - Red Wings forward Todd Bertuzzi on fans' reactions to the lockout.

Northwest Division

-“I wish they had done it sooner. Maybe this will force things along. I’m sick of not playing hockey." - Oilers forward Ryan Smyth on a mediator entering the negotiation process between the NHL and NHLPA.

-Oilers defensive prospect Oscar Klefbom, a first-round pick in 2011, will miss the rest of the season due to a left shouder injury.

-“We've seen that the only way the other leagues got a deal done was that the unions decertified or started the process. It's a very serious decision and something we would have to consider very closely. That's why we're a little reluctant to just charge ahead with it. It's a drastic measure but when you're dealing with this group of owners and a commissioner who have shown time and time again that they're willing to lock you out until they get exactly what they want, there is not much choice either.” - Canucks goaltender and NHLPA negotiation committee member Corey Schneider on the players association potentially decertifying.

(Photos: Crosby-Keith Srakocic/Associated Press; Schinkel-Penguins Hockey Cards; Brassard-Harry How/Getty Images)