The Pittsburgh Penguins have publicly spoken about wanting to get younger, and this week president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas privately told Penguins prospects that not only did they get a chance, but the organization wants them to make an impact. NHL stars are leaving teams they are emotionally tied to, and big names could be on the way out next summer. The Detroit Red Wings declined to reveal the names of stars they were targeting in free agency, but the New York Islanders have the option of scouring the list of players currently available on the NHL trade block or waiting for a treasure trove of free agents to emerge next summer.
Alas, the Florida Panthers had to give up the Stanley Cup for a few days, while the Anaheim Ducks are dealing with the fallout from making a big offer to a free agent only to have it ignored.
Anyone else stuck in the heatwave and rain? I'd love to hear about your favorite roadside BBQ spots. I'm tempted to explore the mountains north and south to find some brisket or shredded beef piles, but there aren't any near me!
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Look around the NHL. This is a lesson for the Penguins and captain Sidney Crosby. Franchise stalwarts are leaving or may leave. And young players are coming in, some of them with a lot of weight on their hands. It's all in the Penguins' notebook.
Saturday was the first day of prospect development camp. Goaltending prospect Sergei Murashov arrived from Russia and was in attendance. Jason Spezza gave an update on Murashov's uncertain future. Per Braden Yeager, Dubas said he's spoken with the prospects and the team is hoping to see some of them in action starting this week. The door is open for Penguins prospects.
Pittsburgh Baseball Now: We have six articles on the Bucs, from last night's 5-2 loss to the latest from David Bednar to John Perot's column on Paul Skenes. For all Pittsburgh Pirates coverage, visit our home page.
NHL Trade Talk, News, National Hockey Now
Detroit Hockey Now: Steven Stamkos signed with the Nashville Predators, but it seems his Penguins rival was also closing in on him hard. Steve Yzerman talked about the fish that got away, but it seems like what he was talking about was how close Stamkos and the Detroit Red Wings came.
Buffalo Hockey Now: I thought the Sabres were way too overpriced when they sent Braden Yeager's Moose Jaw teammate Matthew Savoy (2022 9th overall pick) to Edmonton in exchange for Ryan McLeod. Buffalo fans seem to like the deal. Jason Moser breaks it down in detail. Buffalo got a defensive anchor but gave up a great offensive player. Was it a good trade for the Sabres?
The Athletic ($): The Anaheim Ducks spent big on free agents and no one was interested. The big names ignored Anaheim, forcing the city to switch to Plan B and Plan C. It's a tough deal for GM Pat Verbeek and a problem for a team looking to rebuild.
NYI Hockey Now: The Islanders acquired Anthony Duclair in free agency but he hasn't turned into a big shot. Is there time? Do the Islanders have enough talent to take a big step this season or should they save their chips and jump on the wealth of talent they can acquire next season? A conundrum for the New York Islanders.
New Jersey Hockey Now: GM Tom Fitzgerald had a pretty forthright press conference. New Jersey relied too much on young players last season, which may lead to them over-stimulating and waiting on the next wave of AHL prospects. And next season's top six will look different. There are some interesting differences between the Penguins' approach and the New Jersey Devils.
Florida Hockey Now: The Stanley Cup is taking a break, and the NHL will be taking it away and servicing it for a few days before the players get to hold the silver chalice, a new tradition for the Florida Panthers.
Sportsnet: Post-free agency power rankings: movers, shakers and droppers. Sportsnet didn't just drop the Penguins, they dropped them by a lot. It was basically a chokeslam, but it's hard to argue with the ranking.
