Empty Netter Assists -9-9-09

Penguins

-Dan Bylsma (above) is a big, old worry-wart.

-Ray Shero has made signing Sergei Gonchar and Kris Letang to contract extensions a priority.

-So... Gonchar or Letang?

-The Penguins continued their season ticket delivery promotion yesterday. Bylsma, Pascal Dupuis, Marc-Andre Fleury, Sergei Gonchar, Bill Guerin, Tyler Kennedy, Chris Kunitz, Jay McKee, Jordan Staal and Maxime Talbot all took part.

-Click here for a quality video. Highlights include Chris Kunitz questioning kids as to why their not at school, Bill Guerin walking into some old guy's back yard to drink and Marc-Andre Fleury explaining to a woman that his fingers smell.

-Penguins president David Morehouse did his thing with the Stanley Cup in Beechview recently:

-Would-be Penguins owner and former Sharks and Predators investor Williams "Boots" Del Biaggio III was sentenced to eight years in prison for an investment scheme.

-Faceoff-Factor profiles prospects Paul Bissonnette, Aaron Boogaard and Ben Hanowski.'

-The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins signed former Quinnipiac defenseman Dan Henningson.

-The Wheeling Nailers acquired ECHL all-star forward Jordan Fox from the Gwinnett Gladiators in a trade for cash considerations.

-Random YouTube Find of the Day: This nifty two-on-one goal from Colby Armstrong to Tomas Surovy during the 2005-06 season:

-Happy 43rd birthday to former all-star Penguins defenseman Kevin Hatcher. Hatcher is one of four former first-round picks by the Capitals to have suited up for the Penguins. The others are Gonchar, Nolan Baumgartner and Kris Beech.

Atlantic Division

-Flyers forward Simon Gagne is undergoing blood therapy to repair his damaged groin.

-Philadelphia will bring former Rangers forward Blair Betts to camp as a non-roster invitee.

-New Flyers goaltender Ray Emery compared himself to Britney Spears. There's a five-hole joke we want to use... but we don't want to get fired.

-New/old Devils coach Jacques Lemaire said he will consider using left wing Patrik Elias as a center.

Northeast Division

-Even after an 88-point season, Bruins center Marc Savard (right) still has to prove himself.

-The Bruins have yet to re-sign restricted free agent forward Phil Kessel.

-Boston will unveil its Winter Classic jerseys next Thursday.

-Should Carey Price be forced to earn the Canadiens' top goaltending position?

-Maple Leafs overlord Brian Burke said his team's goal this season is to reach the postseason.

-Burke pretty much confirmed he wants Kessel.

Southeast Division

-Road-Trip Alert: The Thrashers have started a pre-sale for individual tickets. You can access it through this link. The Penguins travel to Atlanta Nov. 21 and March 10. (Kudos to EN reader Alex for the heads up.)

-The Panthers will bring defensemen Christian Backman, formerly of the Blue Jackets, and Mark Skoula (right), formerly of the Wild, to camp as non-roster invitees.

-The Hurricanes are trying to deal the signing rights to restricted free agent defenseman Anton Babchuk.

-After sporting Hershey Bears colors last season, Capitals goaltender Semyon Varlamov has some spiffy new red, white and blue pads.

Central Division

-The Blues signed forward Kings forward Derek Armstrong to a two-way contract.

-Red Wings defenseman Andreas Lilja is still recovering from a head injury that has sidelined him since Feb. 28.

-Detroit forward Darren Helm (right) has played in each of the last two Stanley Cup finals. But he has yet to score a regular season goal.

-The Milwaukee Admirals, the Predators' AHL affiliate, signed former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defenseman Reid Cashman.

Northwest Division

-Road-Trip Alert: If you want to buy tickets for the Penguins' game in Minnesota Jan. 11, you'll need to buy tickets for the Predators at Wild game Oct. 28 as well. The Wild is pairing up several of their high-profile games with contests featuring lesser opponents as "companion games."

-The Oilers expect back-up goaltender Jeff Deslauriers to play 25-30 games next season.

-A shoulder injury could force Canucks forward Pavol Demitra to miss the start of the regular season.

Pacific Division

-Peter Berg has produced a documentary about Wayne Gretzky's trade from Edmonton to Los Angeles:

-That gives us a fairly convenient excuse to post this trailer from what is perhaps the worst movie ever, "Shocker," which also featured the talents of Berg:

Adams Division

-Former NHL referee Terry Gregson is now the NHL's senior vice president in charge of officiating.

-Jonathan Roy, the son of former NHL goaltender Patrick Roy, will stand trial for an on-ice fight last season during a QMJHL game.

-To review, this was the "fight:"

-Today would've been the 93rd birthday of former Pittsburgh Hornets forward Viv Allen.

(Photos: Bylsma-Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press; Savard-Elsa/Getty Images; Skoula-Rick Stewart/Getty Images; Helm-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)