The Pittsburgh Penguins were quiet on Day 2 of NHL free agency. No signings and no trades, but we were perhaps harder on the team and general manager Kyle Dubas than we’ve been in quite some time for the current construction. The column drew strong reactions and an interesting split.
Elsewhere in the Daily, the NHL trade speculation surrounding a couple of household names has begun. There’s some analysis of the best and worst moves from the first couple of days, as well as some sentences on all of the notable signings and the best remaining UFAs.
Today is the Penguins’ prospects scrimmage. I must confess I did not attend the workouts Thursday. I haven’t found much value in this week–there are so few prospects who are on the NHL shortlist, and the battle drills are difficult to judge against such varying competition, but today should give us a little more insight.
And as an offseason pastime this week, I succumbed to HBO’s constant ads to rewatch Game of Thrones on its 15th anniversary. If you haven’t been through it a second time, it views so … so much differently. First, you realize exactly how constant and gratuitous the nudity of the first couple of seasons is, the nuanced brilliance of Peter Dinklage, but once you know which characters don’t really matter, it’s a lot easier to roll through. Without the shock value of the Red Wedding, bleh. And, the last season … has even more plot holes and contrived character changes than I remembered.
It’s a shame that Ol’ George can’t sit his butt down, focus, and finish the series. Not that I’d read those bug killers, but I’d like to see movies or an updated series with how it all ends.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: We did things backward Thursday. I published the first story early morning, then the Daily, then we got to the strong column. Based on the votes contradicting the comments, it looks like the silent majority is going one way and the vocal minority the other. It’s as tough as I’ve been on the Penguins and general manager Kyle Dubas in some time. It looks like the Penguins are being pulled apart by the middle. Questioning the Penguins’ strategy.
Steelers Now: After getting an F- for the turf at Acrisure, and even the home players ripping the grounds, the Pittsburgh Steelers are trying something new–a new surface at Acrisure Stadium.
And there is a new documentary featuring Hines Ward.
NHL Trade Talk, Free Agency, National Hockey Now
I hope I don’t get in trouble for this, but I learned yesterday that Firefox has a free, built-in VPN. It makes watching TSN videos much easier. I enjoy a lot of TSN’s content.
TSN: The best UFA remaining on the market is former Penguins winger Anthony Mantha. Here’s the list of the best still on the market.
Sportsnet: Two sentences from Justin Bourne on every notable free agent signing including a couple from the Penguins. Context and expectations … and some criticism from the free agent frenzy.
Sticking with Sportsnet, the 9.0 updated NHL trade board on who is still dangling on the trade market and could be moved before everyone hits their lake houses.
Forever Blueshirts: GM Chris Drury said the rebuild is going exactly as planned. In fact, he’s energized by the turnover and the New York Rangers may not be done on the NHL trade market. He gave a good hint there are more Rangers trades to come.
Columbus Dispatch: Off the trade market. A day after Zach Werenski’s wild ride of trade request and trade denial and decision to stay came to a conclusion, GM Don Waddell said he won’t trade Kirill Marchenko, either.
Ottawa Citizen: Claude Giroux. Will he return to Philly? Stay in Ottawa? There are four teams still vying for still productive winger.
RMNB: I wondered what would happen to the Capitals blog Russian Machine Never Breaks if indeed the Russian Machine retired or went elsewhere. However, the story will have one more chapter as Alex Ovechkin re-upped with the Washington Capitals for one more year.
The NHL absolutely must make sure the Penguins and Capitals play their 84th game against each other, right? A Malkin-Ovechkin send off would be incredible.
ESPN: Olli Maatta is on the road again. Minnesota GM Bill Guerin re-united with Maatta and acquired Blake Coleman from Calgary for Jake Middleton and picks as Minnesota loads up.
Billy G is doing an extraordinary job up there. Once he got free of the heavy buyout hits from Ryan Suter and Zach Parise, he’s been on a tear. He still has three more years of those hits but they’re “only” $833,333 now.
The Atheltic ($): Ummm? Stuart Skinner signed in Winnipeg, so what in the world does that mean for Connor Hellebuyck? Winnipeg fans and media are trying to figure that out and Murat Ates is digging into the story of what comes next.
New Jersey Hockey Now: Was the offer sheet to Barrett Hayton a little revenge plot with a high upside after Utah backed out of a trade with the New Jersey Devils during the draft?
Florida Hockey Now: Keeping with the New Jersey theme, the Florida has also been on quite the roll this summer. They said goodbye to Sergei Bobrovsky and are giving Jacob Markstrom a chance to reclaim what was, for himself and the Florida Panthers.
Detroit Hockey Now: Kevin Allen delivers the grades for the struggling Detroit Red Wings during their first few days of free agency and the state of the team that seems to be coming apart at the seems. It’s a frustrating time for the Red Wings.
Categorized:Links NHL Trade Rumors Pittsburgh Penguins
