Empty Netter Assists - 10-23-12
Penguins
-Sidney Crosby, Chris Kunitz and James Neal (above) are among several NHLers working out in Plano, Texas this week.
-A full 82-game schedule will be the next thing to bite the dust in the lockout.
-Evgeni Malkin had a goal and three assists for Metallurg Magnitogorsk which defeated Dinamo Riga, 5-2, in the KHL.
-Malkin's goal was a classic one-timer off a power-play from the right circle:
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-Former Penguins coach Kevin Constantine has been fired as head coach of Ambri-Potta of Switzerland's NLA.
-Happy 53rd birthday to former Penguins defenseman Bennett Wolf. A third round pick in 979, Wolf spent parts of three seasons with the Penguins. As a rookie in 1980-81, Wolf appeared in 24 games and recorded an assist - the only point of his NHL career. He followed that up with one game in 1981-82 and five games in 1982-83. He was released from the organization in the 1985 offseason.
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Atlantic Division
-Devils defensman Anton Volchenkov will be sidelined four to six weeks after suffering a broken ankle while playing for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in Russia's KHL.
-Islanders defensive prospect Calvin de Haan will miss the rest of the season after suffering a shouldering injury while playing for New York's AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
Northeast Division
-"[Bettman] does what he wants. We want to play, we're the ones who are doing the show in the NHL. But Bettman thinks it makes him. It is unfortunate that the NHL have such a guy. It's a shame for the entire hockey world. [He] treats us like animals. [It’s] really a shame that he is not at the forefront." - Bruins forward David Krejci (right) on NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
-EN Says: This is a completely ignorant comment. Krejci is on the verge of beginning a three-year, $15.75 million contract. That's a pricy animal. If Krejci is displeased with how he's treated, he should take it up with owner, Boston's Jeremy Jacobs. Perhaps the most powerful owner in the NHL, Jacobs has given Bettman directions throughout most of this dispute. Jacobs, who gave Krejci his new contract, is just as guilty for this situation as Krejci.
-“For the fans that keep asking me, there is no comeback in the foreseeable future. I miss the game. It has given me everything I have today.” - Bruins forward Marc Savard, via Twitter, on his recovery from concussion issues.
-Maple Leafs forward Clarke MacArthur has joined Eispiraten Crimmitschau of Germany's 2nd Bundesliga for the duration of the lockout.
Southeast Division
-Winnipeg forward Tobias Enstrom has joined EC Salzburg of Austria's EBEL for the duration of the lockout.
-Jets forward Eric Fehr has joined HPK of Finland's SM-liiga for the duration of the lockout.
Central Division
-Predators forward Sergei Kostitsyn (right), a Belarussian currently playing for Avangard Omsk of Russia's KHL, gave an interesting interview where he said he hopes the entire NHL season was canceled and that Columbus is the gloomiest city in the United States.
-EN Says: Kostitsyn and his brother, former Predators forward Andrei Kostitsyn, are prone to saying and doing stupid things. This is just a continuation of that.
Smythe Division
-Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds and Blues forward Chris Stewart will join Liberec of the Czech Extraliga for the duration of the lockout.
-Even with the lockout delaying the season, the worst network ever NBC is still paying the NHL.
-Former Islanders/Mighty Ducks forward/goon Trevor Gillies was at it again. Currently a member of Vityaz in Russia's KHL, he soundly defeated and injured Barys' Jon "Nasty" Mirasty in a fight then proceeded to mock Mirasty as he struggled to recover to his skates:
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-Former Flyers/Oilers/Islanders/Stars/Canadiens defenseman Janne Niinimaa has joined Asplöven of Sweden's Asplöven.
-A new film titled "The Last Gladiators" has been released. It documents the lives of enforcers during and after their careers. Former Canadiens/Bruins/Rangers forward Chris "Knuckles" Nilan is the primary focus of the film:
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(Photos: Neal-Justin K. Aller/Getty Images; Krejci-Al Bello/Getty Images; Kostitsyn-Jeff Gross/Getty Images)