Empty Netters

Penguins sign Conner - 7-4-09

2009-07-04T20:00:00Z

The Penguins signed former Stars forward Chris Conner. Terms of the deal are not known. He has bounced back and forth between the NHL and AHL the past three seasons.

He scored 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) last season with the Stars in 38 games.

EN Says: This is a signing for the organization's depth. After losing Chris Minard and Jeff Taffe, the organization needed someone at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Connor won't replace their scoring at the AHL level, but he offers a viable option as a call up should the NHL team need some bodies.

He has tons of speed but isn't all that talented as a scorer. Think of a lighter version of Rico Fata (if that's possible.)

(Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Avalanche deals Smyth to Kings 7-4-09

2009-07-04T09:39:00Z

Well we guess this answers those questions about all the Kings' depth on the blue line following the Rob Scuderi signing.

The Kings have acquired forward Ryan Smyth from the Avalanche in exchange for defensemen Kyle Quincey, Tom Preissing and a fifth-round pick in 2010.

Smyth had 59 points (26 goals, 33 assists) in 77 games last season. He signed a five-year deal worth $31.25 million in the 2007 off season.

Quincey had a breakout season with Los Angeles scoring 38 points (four goals, 34 assists).

Preissing had seven points (three goals, four assists) in an injury-filled 2008-09.

EN Says: Bold move by the Kings. They were left out of the cold in the sweepstakes for some of the bigger names up front like Marian Hossa and Martin Havlat. Smyth might not be what he was five years ago, but Smyth gives them a legit first-line scoring presence.

The Avalanche are rebuilding and dealing the 33-year-old Smyth and his salary cap hit of $6.25 million is a step in a right direction. Additionally, Quincey, 23, is a heck of a young player.

The Kings still need to upgrade their goaltending if they hope to reach the playoffs.

(Photo: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Blue Jackets sign Nash - 7-4-09

2009-07-04T09:01:00Z

The Blue Jackets signed forward and captain Rick Nash to an eight-year contract extension worth $62.4 million. Nash will have an annual salary cap hit of $7.8 million.

Nash, the first overall pick in the 2002 draft, is Columbus' all-time leading scorer with 355 points.

EN Says: Fantastic move by the Blue Jackets. Nash is a special player and getting him at $7.8 million per season is a very reasonable number. There had been speculation that Nash would serve out the final year of his contract and cash in big-time next offseason, but this makes quite a brings a sense of respect to the franchise that has mostly been absent throughout its short existence.

With Nash in for the long haul, this should make it easier to bring in and retain other star players for Columbus.

(Photo: Dave Abel/Getty Images)

Empty Netter Assists - 7-4-09

2009-07-04T08:19:00Z

Penguins

-Welcome back Ruslan Fedotenko (above).

-Should the Penguins pursue former Blues defenseman Jay McKee?

-Bob Smizik says the Penguins will get by their free agency losses.

-"I didn't want to leave Pittsburgh and I didn't want to leave Wilkes-Barre, but things happen." - Former Penguins forward Chris Minard on joining the Oilers.

-Tyler Kennedy did his thing with the Stanley Cup in Sault. St. Marie, Ont. yesterday.

-Random YouTube Find of the Day: Mario Lemieux talking about dealing with Hodgkin's disease during the 1993 All-Star Game:

-Sweet denim shirt.

Atlantic Division

-The Rangers signed former Wild forward Corey Locke and re-signed forward P.A. Parenteau.

Northeast Division

-Bruins forward and former Penguin Mark Recchi pretty much confirmed next season will be his last in the NHL.

-"I’ve never seen anything like this in my life." - Senators owner Eugene Melnyk on forward Dany Heatley.

-At 6-foot-7, former Penguins defenseman Hal Gill (right) will be the tallest player in Canadiens history.

Central Division

-The NHL and NHLPA are investigating the possibility that the Blackhawks incorrectly filed qualifying offers to restricted free agent forwards Troy Brouwer, Ben Eager, Colin Fraser, Kris Versteeg and defensemen Cam Barker and Aaron Johnson.

Northwest Division

-Former Wild forward Marian Gaborik offered to sell his house to new Wild forward Martin Havlat.

-Does the Canucks' signing of forward Mikael Samuelsson rule out a return for forward Mats Sundin?

Pacific Division

-Ducks forward Teemu Selanne announced he would retire after next season.

(Photos: Fedoenko-Jim McIsaac/Getty Images; Gill-Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Penguins lose Minard, Taffe - 7-3-09

2009-07-03T22:35:00Z

Two more Penguins have jumped ship. From Jonathan Bombulie of the Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice, forward Chris Minard (above, center) has signed with the Oilers while forward Jeff Taffe has joined the Panthers.

Minard had three points (one goal, two assists) in 20 games last season while Taffe had two assists in eight games.

Minard and Taffe were vital parts of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins offense. Minard led the team with 34 goals. He had a total of 57 points in 54 games in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Taffe had 75 points (25 goals, 50 points) in 74 games.

EN Says: Fire Ray Shero.

Seriously, some folks in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton might be upset to see some of that team's best scorers leave, but neither player had much in the way of an NHL future with the organization.

(Photo: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Penguins re-sign Fedotenko - 7-3-09

2009-07-03T18:05:00Z

The Penguins have re-signed forward Ruslan Fedotenko to a one-year deal. Financial terms of the deal have not been released.

In his first season with the Penguins, he scored 39 points (16 goals, 23 assists) in 65 games. He was the Penguins' fourth-leading scorer in the playoffs with 14 points (seven goals, seven assists).

EN Says: Regardless of the money, we have to imagine this rules out a return for Petr Sykora.

We like the signing. Fedotenko's regular season stats will never blow you away (Though, he probably would've hit the 20-goal mark if his fist didn't have an unfortunate run-in with Colby Armstrong's nose), but he does lots of little things that help his team win and he just works well with Evgeni Malkin on the second line. He goes to the net, will work hard along the boards and most importantly, picks his game up in the postseason.

UPDATE: Dave Molinari has the salary cap number at $1.8. Fedotenko made $2.25 million last season.

EN Says: That's a bargain for a second-line winger. That should leave them plenty of room to sign a competent No. 6 or 7 defenseman.

Now, if the Penguins can somehow acquire Henrik Zetterberg, Travis Moen, Frantisek Kaberle, Brendan Shanahan, Alex Tanguay, Jason Arnott and Darren McCarty, they'll have every active player who has scored a Stanley Cup-clinching goal.

(Photo: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Wild signs Hnidy - 7-3-09

2009-07-03T17:53:00Z

The WIld has signed former Bruins defenseman Shane Hnidy. No word yet on terms.

In 65 games last season, he had 12 points (three goals, six assists).

EN Says: Hnidy is a tough, tough defensive player who will dress for 60-75 games. He should be set as the Wild's No. 5 or 6 defenseman.

(Photo: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Canucks sign Samuelsson - 7-3-09

2009-07-03T16:36:00Z

Mikael Samuelsson is the latest former Penguin to defect from Detroit. He has signed a three-year deal with the Canucks.

Samuelsson had 40 points (19 goals, 21 assists) in 81 games last season. He also had 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 23 playoff games.

EN Says: Samuelsson never accomplished a thing in his career until he joined the Red Wings. It will be interesting to see what he can do once he leaves Mo Town.

That said, he's been a solid, consistent producer, particularly in the playoffs, the past three seasons. And the Canucks are a little light in playoff experiences. They've just added a player who has played in the past three Western Conference finals and past two Stanley Cup finals.

(Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Rangers sign Arnason - 7-3-09

2009-07-03T16:26:00Z

The Rangers have signed former Avalanche forward Tyler Arnason to a two-way deal.

Arnason had 22 points (five goals, 17 assists) in 71 games last season.

EN Says: Arnason is a talented but inconsistent player. So he'll fit in well with the Rangers.

It's little surprising he could do no better than a two-way deal. He's a player who has been a regular No. 3 center in the NHL despite his inconsistency.

Arnason is the son of former Penguins forward Chuck Arnason. We can sense Paul Steigerwald cueing up several "the Arnasons' are..." as we type this.

(Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Penguins sign Guein - 7-3-09

2009-07-03T16:16:00Z

Eat your heart out Bill Thomas.

The Penguins have signed former Flyers defensmean Nate Guenin, a native of Sewickley, to a one-year, two way deal.

Guenin appeared in one game last season with the Flyers and recorded no points. In 77 games with the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL, he had 17 points (four goals, 13 assists).

EN Says: This is a signing for the sake of organizational depth. He'll get a look at as the team's sixth or seventh defenseman. That said, we'll be surprised if he makes the team out of training camp unless another defenseman is injured or something. Guenin had trouble sticking with the NHL club the past few seasons where depth on defense has always been an issue.

There's a Guenin-Guerin joke in there somewhere which we can't put together at the moment.

NOTE: Tom Fitzgerald, who served as an assistant coach last season, will be moved to a newly-created position of assistant to the general manager. The team will hire a replacement as assistant coach.

(Photo: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)