Former Penguins forward Jaromir Jagr has apparently found
whatever it was he was looking for in Russia.
(Aside from a big fat pay check of course.)
He's leading the KHL with 10 goals in 15 games and has
directed his team, Avangard Omsk, to a sixth consecutive win.
More importantly, he's inspiring James Bond themed videos:
It's still hard for us to believe he's not in the NHL any longer.
(Note: You may have
noticed the date in the headline of today's post. This is a minor change in
the format we'll be doing because this blogging software doesn't allow posts
with duplicate headlines. So basically we can use "Staal Tactics" more than
once just as long as we include a date in the headline. We probably should use "10-1-2008" instead of "10-1-08" in order to avoid any Y2K
type of problems. But we'll address that issue in 2108 when Gary Roberts returns to the Penguins. Also, the tags will be
expanded to include all the subjects in Empty Netter Assists.)
EMPTY NETTER ASSISTS
Penguins
-Penguins > Steelers?
-The Penguins had a scavenger hunt.
-Ticket and promotional information.
-Ray Shero sees opportunity in Sergei Gonchar's shoulder
injury.
-Kris Beech didn't report to Wilkes-Barre/Scanton's camp.
Coach Dan Bylsma doesn't appear happy.
-Defenseman Jean-Philippe Cote is trying to stick with the
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
-Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo!
didn't exactly agree with our assessment of the Penguins' depth on defense.
-Kevin Allen of USA Today
thinks the Penguins can weather the storm until Gonchar and Ryan Whitney come
back.
-Would-be Penguins owner Harvey Gainey is being sued for
$238 million by Wachovia Bank.
-Sidney Crosby is kind of important to the NHL's marketing
plan.
-So desperate for work after the Medillin fiasco,
Vincent Chase has apparently gone to Sweden
to help the Penguins out on defense.
Atlantic Division
-With a new coach, Islanders forward Jeff Tambellini will
have more opportunities to succeed this season.
-Devils goaltender Kevin Weekes is recovering from arm
surgery.
Northeast Division
-Sabres forward Paul Gaustad will be out a minimum of
three-to-four weeks with a thumb injury. 
-The Canadiens awarded former Penguins forward Alex Kovalev
with the Jean Beliveau Award
which recognizes charitable work.
-Montreal has put 2007 first-round pick Max Pacioretty on a
line with Kovalev and Robert Lang.
-Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson owns Sweden.
-The Senators are going to look a lot different on the blue
line this season.
-Ottawa will
play Christoph Schubert as a forward this season instead of as a defenseman.
-Toronto has a
surplus of NHL-caliber defensemen.
Southeast Division
-The comeback attempt of former Hurricanes forward Jeff
O'Neill has come to an end.
-The Thrashers are trying former Penguins forward Colby
Armstrong out on the second line.
-Lightning forward Vincent Lecavalier played his first game
since suffering a shoulder injury last season.
-Tampa Bay
forward and former Penguin Michel Ouellet cleared waivers.
Central Division
-Blackhawks goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin cleared waivers.
-Does the Penguins' success with a youth movement offer hope
for Blues fans?
-Alex Pietrangelo, the Blues' first-round draft pick this
past summer, says his age shouldn't matter in regards to his chances to make
St. Louis' roster out of camp.
-The Blue Jackets put forward Mike York on waivers.
-Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios is dealing with a knee
injury.
-Detroit forward
Henrik Zetterberg is thinking about 50 goals.
Northwest Division
-The Canucks made a really odd move when they named
goaltender Roberto Luongo their captain.
The last goaltender to serve as captain was Bill Durnan of the 1947-48
Canadiens.
-The same day he was given the honor, Luongo suffered a
groin injury.
-The Oilers claimed defenseman Steve MacIntyre off waivers
from the Panthers.
-Oilers defenseman Sheldon Souray is looking to rebound this
season.
-New Avalanche forward Darcy Tucker is digging Colorado.
-The Avalanche is trying to improve its special teams.
Pacific Division
-The Ducks traded defenseman Sean O'Donnell to the rival
Kings for a conditional third-round draft pick.
Sort of.
-The Kings have options in goal.
-Even if he's being battered more than a crash-test dummy,
Stars defenseman Philippe Boucher doesn't feel old.
-The Sharks are using new defensemen Dan Boyle and Rob Blake
on the power play.
(Photos: Kovalev: Getty Images; Luongo: Getty Images)
Posted
Oct 01 2008, 08:56 AM
by
Seth Rorabaugh
Filed under: Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils, Edmonton Oilers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings, Jaromir Jagr, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche, Darcy Tucker, Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Dallas Stars, Ottawa Senators, Atlanta Thrashers, Ray Shero, Sidney Crosby, Rob Blake, San Jose Sharks, Dan Boyle, Vincent Lecavalier, Kris Beech, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dan Bylsma, KHL, Alex Kovalev, Robert Lang, Sergei Gonchar, Colby Armstrong, Daniel Alfredsson, Bill Durnan, Mike York, Jeff Tambellini, Paul Gaustad, Max Pacioretty, Philippe Boucher, Sean O'Donnell, Jean-Philippe Cote, Jean Beliveau, Roberto Luongo, Christoph Schubert, Henrik Zetterberg, Michel Ouellet, Steve MacIntyre, Alex Pietrangelo, Jeff O'Neill, Vancouver Canucks, Nikolai Khabibulin, Chris Chelios, Kevin Weekes