The Stanley Cup Final appears to be taking shape, and a rematch is on the way as the Edmonton Oilers looked unstoppable in Game 3. There is a report that Mitch Marner has two preferred teams for next season, and neither choice is the Toronto Maple Leafs. No, it’s not the Pittsburgh Penguins either. Team USA accomplished something it had not done in 92 years, and then celebrated by paying respects to Johnny Gaudreau. Lastly, Dave Molinari writes that there are good reasons not to overlook the Penguins’ second-round draft pick.
Happy Memorial Day. PHN and I wish to honor the heroes for whom the day is reserved. In a perfect world, such sacrifices would not be necessary, but their bravery was in defense of a free world, which is even better.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: That second-round pick. For 36 years, it was close to worthless as the Penguins’ second-round curse prevented any player from playing more than 200 games in one tenure with the club, and only one player played 200 games with them in two stints (Richard Park). A few players in the last decade broke the jinx, and it appears the Penguins hit a home run or two with their selections last year. So, here’s why the Penguins’ second-round pick is important.
Steelers Now: OTAs are this week, and there is still no Aaron Rodgers. I’d pull the plug on any offer by tonight, but it seems there is another option for a veteran QB that’s not being discussed. No, there is … another. Another possible Steelers QB.
Pittsburgh Baseball Now: You have not seen anyone hit a ball harder. Oneil Cruz cracked a home run Sunday that was the hardest ball hit in the Statcast era, and the visual is stunning. Even the umpire (probably) muttered the words, “Holy crap.” The bullpen blew it again, but here is Cruz’s rocket shot in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ loss.
It was an encouraging homestand. The Pirates even won a few games. However, John Perrotto writes that mistakes take the shine off of encouraging moments for the Pirates.
NHL News, Rumors, & NHN
Vegas Hockey Now: Sometimes I’m just too good. I circled Las Vegas as a good landing spot for Mitch Marner, and guess what–that is one of the two teams on his short list, according to Pierre LeBrun. Marner to the Golden Knights?
NHL.com: Tage Thompson scored the golden goal in overtime to break a scoreless game against Switzerland. For the first time since the 1930s–no, not even I was born yet–the Gold Medal from the IIHF World Championships belongs to Team USA, and the honored Johnny Gaudreau in the process.
TVA Sports: Make sure your translation from French to English is on for this one. Montreal is in need of a second-line center, and the folks at TVA have circled former Penguins star, icon, and legend Mikael Granlund as their choice to fill the role.
Commenting that Mike Sullivan was the reason Granlund didn’t succeed in Pittsburgh will get you on the list.
TSN: In the playoffs, your best players need to perform as your best players. That was the case for the Edmonton Oilers Sunday as they crushed the Dallas Stars 6-1 in Game 3. Actually, Dallas dominated for quite a while, but Edmonton won the goaltending battle. It’s a weird world, but Edmonton is rolling.
Detroit Hockey Now ($): PHN+ readers can log in to read it — Kevin Allen put the lumber to the Motown Wheels. The rebuild is over, but there is no success at the end of the arduous process. It’s time to shake up the Detroit Red Wings.
Philly Hockey Now: Wouldn’t this be something? As one of many teams desperately hunting for help down the middle, Rick Tocchet’s team could find a golden solution from a division rival on the NHL trade market. Could the Islanders and Flyers make a trade?
NYI Hockey Now: With a new GM in the seat, Kyle Palmieri’s future is in question. The Penguins killer needs a new contract. So what will the New York Islanders do?
The Daily is a little late today. Ol’ Dan had some neighborly interruptions last night. Not only did four of the most obnoxious human beings alive crash our little neighborhood bar until they were thrown out, it turns out one of them was said hockey scribe’s upstairs neighbor. So, the party that was tossed out of the bar moved to … wait for it … the apartment above Ol’ Dan.
Any attempt to work Sunday night was drowned in stomping, yelling, and singing until about 4 a.m. Plans to get even are underway.
