Empty Netter Assists - 6-30-09

Penguins

-Welcome back Craig Adams (right) and Bill Guerin.

-Will the Penguins be able to re-sign Rob Scuderi now?

-The PensBlog has a pretty thorough look at the Penguins' free agency situation.

-Faceoff-Factor scored an interview with prospect Eric Tangradi.

-If you happen to be at the Essar Centre in Sault St. Marie, Ont. this Friday AND you just happen to be a fan of Tyler Kennedy and/or the Stanley Cup... we've got some good news for you.

-The Penguins selected forward Andy Bathgate in the fifth round of this past weekend's draft despite the fact he missed much of last season due to a shoulder injury.

-Evgeni Malkin, living the good life.

Atlantic Division

-The Rangers extended qualifying offers to forwards Brian Boyle, Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, Lauri Korpikoski and defenseman Corey Potter.

-Islanders coach Scott Gordon and Rangers coach John Tortorella will serve as assistants to Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson on the United States' 2010 Olympic team.

-How important is John Tavares to the Islanders? For the first time in franchise history, the team did not have a 20-goal scorer last season.

Northeast Division

-The Bruins put forward Peter Schaefer on unconditional waivers.

-The Sabres extended qualifying offers to forwards Clarke MacArthur, Drew Stafford and defenseman Andrej Sekera. All three are restricted free agents.

-Here's a shocker. The Sabres won't be big-time shoppers come Wednesday.

-According to RDS, the Canadiens have extended a contract offer to potential unrestricted free agent forward Alex Kovalev (right). Qualifying offers were extended to forwards Kyle Chipchura, Matt D'Agostini, Christopher Higgins, Guillame Latendresse, Tomas Plekanec and Gregory Stewart.

-Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau will serve as an honorary captain for Canada in the 2010 Olympics.

-The Maple Leafs extended a qualifying offer to goaltender Justin Pogge.

-Pacifiers with the Senators' logo have been recalled due to a health hazard. No word yet on if Dany Heatley turned his in when he requested a trade.

Southeast Division

-The Hurricanes re-signed forward Jussi Jokinen (right) to a two-year deal worth $3.4 million.

-The Panthers extended qualifying offers to forwards David Booth and David Brine. Defensemen Steve Eminger, Franklin MacDonald, forwards Tanner Glass, Drew Larman, Anthony Stewart and goaltender David Shantz did not receive offers. Stewart was a first-round pick in 2003. Forward Brett McLean, he of Sidney Crosby fight fame, was put on unconditional waivers.

-The Thrashers made qualifying offers to forwards Colby Armstrong, forward Jordan Lavallee, Jim Slater, defensemen Scott Lehman, Grant Lewis, Boris Valabik and goaltender Kari Lehtonen. Former Penguins forward Chris Thorburn and goaltender Dan Turple did not receive offers.

-The Lightning extended qualifying offers to forwards Blair Jones, Martins Karsums, Radek Smolenak, Lauri Tukonen, defensemen Lukas Krajicek, Matt Lashoff, Mike Lundin, Matt Smaby and goaltender Karri Ramo. Goaltender Mike McKenna did not receive an offer.

-The Capitals extended qualifying offers to forwards Chris Bourque, Eric Fehr, Boyd Gordon, Steve Pinnizzotto, Kyle Wilson, defensemen Milan Jurcina, Shaone Morrisonn and Jeff Schultz. Forwards Andrew Joudrey, Travis Morin, goaltender Daren Machesney and defenseman Sasha Pokulok did not receive offers.

Central Division

-The Blues bought out the final year of defenseman Jay McKee's contract. The team also re-signed forward Brad Winchester and pseudo former Penguins defenseman Mike Weaver to one-year deals.

-The Blackhawks agreed to a five-year contract worth $18 million with forward Dave Bolland (right). Forward Jacob Dowell and and goaltender Antti Niemi also agreed to new deals.

-Former Chicago goaltender Ed Belfour, 44, wants to come out of retirement.

-The Blue Jackets extended qualifying offers to forwards Michael Blunden, Alexandre Picard, defensemen Marc Methot, Jonathan Sigalet and goaltender Dan LaCosta. Forwards Jiri Novotny, forwards Petr Pohl and John Vigilante, defenseman Trevor Hendrikx, Jon Landry, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen and Kyle Wharton did not receive offers.

Northwest Division

-The Avalanche signed restricted free agent goaltender Peter Budaj (right) to a one-year deal worth $1.25 million. The team also extended a qualifying offer to forward David Jones. Forwards Tyler Arnason, Ben Guite, Ian Laperriere, Cody McCormick and goaltender Andrew Raycroft did not receive offers.

-The Wild extended qualifying offers to forward Kyle Brodziak, Robert Earl, Danny Irmen, Benoit Pouliot, goaltender Josh Harding and defenseman Clayton Stoner. Forward Dan Fritsche did not receive an offer.

-The Flames extended qualifying offers to forwards Dustin Boyd and Kris Chucko. Forwards Adam Cracknell and Aki Seitsonen did not receive offers.

Pacific Division

-San Jose signed defenseman Rob Blake to a one-year deal worth $3.5 million.

-The Sharks extended qualifying offers to forwards Ryan Clowe, Torrey Mitchell, Brad Staubitz and goaltender Thomas Greiss. Forwards Riley Armstrong (brother of former Penguins forward Colby Armstrong), T.J. Fox, Marcel Goc, Lukas Kaspar, Mike Morris, Tomas Plihal, Ashton Rome and goaltender Taylor Dakers. Goc (2001), Morris (2002) and Kaspar (2004) are former first-round picks.

-The Kings extended qualifying offers to defenseman Drew Bagnall, Jack Johnson, Corey Elkins, Joe Piskula, forwards Scott Parse, Teddy Purcell and Kevin Westgarth. Forward and Vladimir Dravecky and goaltender Danny Taylor did not receive offers.

-The Ducks extended qualifying offers to defensemen Brett Festerlilng, Brian Salcido, James Wisniewski (right), forwards Petri Kontiola and Petteri Wirtanen. Forwards Michal Birner, former Penguin Erik Christensen and Chad Painchaud did not receive offers.

-The Stars extended qualifying offers to defenseman Mark Fistric and forward Aaron Gagnon.

Smythe Division

-James Mirtle takes a look at your unrestricted free agent forwards and defensemen.

-In other news, we've successfully been able to include a picture from each and every division within a single post. Time to throw a party.

(Photos: Adams-Associated Press; Kovalev-Elsa/Getty Images; Streeter Lecka-Getty Images; Bolland-Jeff Gross; Getty Images; Budaj-Doug Pensinger/Getty Images; Wisniewski-Harry How/Getty Images)