Tuesday, 26 June 2012 09:50

Written by Seth Rorabaugh

Penguins/NHL

-"I don't want to feel like I'm replacing someone." - New Penguins center Brandon Sutter (above).

-“I don’t want to be looked at as just a defensive player. I want to score goals and do things, too.” - Sutter.

-The Penguins are not actively seeking a trade for Paul Martin.

-The Penguins are expected to make a decision on re-signing unrestricted-free-agents-to-be Steve Sullivan, Arron Asham and Richard Park later this week. The team extended qualifying offers to restricted-free-agents-to-be Matt Niskanen, Robert Bortuzzo, Brian Strait, Alex Grant, Carl Sneep, Eric Tangradi and Keven Veilleux. Cal O'Reilly, Mattias Modig, Casey Pierro-Zabotel, Alexandre Picard or Boris Valabik did not receive offers.

-Jonathan Bombulie of the Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice takes a look at the restricted free agents from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton who did not receive offers.

-"They’re assets you want to get in your organization. The only way to get that most of the time is through the draft." - Penguins assistant general manager Jason Botterill on drafting defensemen.

-"It was a great experience and I will never say anything bad about Pittsburgh – the city or the team. I have some great memories from my time there; my daughter was born there about a month and a half ago, so that city will always be with us. They have great fans and a great team… I just hope that I’ve become a better player and a better person out of my whole experience there.” - Former Penguins defenseman Zbynek Michalek.

-Former Penguins forward Kris Beech has joined HC Pardubice of the Czech Extraliga.

-According to the Columbus Dispatch, the Islanders offered all of their draft picks to the Blue Jackets in exchange the No. 2 overall picks. Columbus declined and chose defenseman Ryan Murray with the pick.

-The Jets re-signed restricted free agent goaltender Ondrej Pavelec to a five-year contract worth a total of $19.5 million.

-Approximately 50 NHLers including stars such as Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, Islanders forward John Tavares, Predators captain Shea Weber and Coyotes captain Shane Doan attended a meeting with NHLPA brass in Chicago yesterday.

-The Hockey Hall of Fame will announce its class of 2012 today.

Pirates/MLB

-Jeff Karstens gets knocked around as the Pirates are routed by the Phillies, 8-3.

-The Pirates optioned Bryan Morris to Class AAA Indianapolis.

-The minor league report.

Steelers/NFL

-The Steeler waived quarterback Troy Smith.

(Photos: Sutter -Marianne Helm/Getty Images; Sullivan-Jamie Sabau/Getty Images; Beech-Victor Decolongon/Getty Images; Kulikov and Sakic-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images; Wilson-Dale MacMillan/Getty Images; Backlund-Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)