Dan’s Daily: Penguins Options; Ba-Bye Capitals; Toronto Blow Up?

The Stanley Cup Playoffs reveal strength, and the 2025 version has eliminated all underdogs and inexperienced teams. The Carolina Hurricanes survived a subpar game before handing the Washington Capitals luggage and plane tickets home, but the Winnipeg Jets survived the Dallas Stars by playing one of their best games of the postseason. Speculation is rampant that sweeping and big-name changes will come to the Toronto Maple Leafs if they lose out to the Florida Panthers. Finally, we broke the seal on looking at what the Penguins have available for next season’s lineup and if some of the players acquired are worthy of spots.

I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you all. I’ve long joked that I could retire early if I just did these Daily’s every day. You grace us with continued visits and participation. The Live Chat video has over 1000 views again this week. I’ll keep doing them if you keep showing up.

I do want to share a cautionary note with you. This week, one of our original subscribers unsubbed. He was kind enough to send a complimentary note of encouragement, but also frustration with the tenor and tone of the Penguins fanbase at large. He was stepping away from following the team because “I can’t deal with it anymore.”

To his point, I’ve noticed that even our comments section has become a dark place some days, with the same comments over and over (sometimes despite the reporting of the article), attacks, and negativity. To be clear, the Penguins are going to stink for a minute. My job is to act like headlights for a few months to show where things are going. If you’ll let me, I’ll download everything I’ve learned in 20+ years around and inside this game.

Or you can shake your fist as if I’m part of some larger media conspiracy with an agenda to protect the big hockey industrial complex by lying and covering up the real truths they don’t want you to know. Either way, finding your own joy in the coming process will be paramount to surviving it.

It could be worse. You could be Sabres fans, eh?

To the hockey…

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Let’s have a little fun. Team Canada steamrolled poor Team Austria at the Worlds, but Sidney Crosby had a goal, and the handshake line was funny as Austrian players wanted their moment with Sid. We’ve got the videos–Fun moments at the Worlds with Sidney Crosby.

Team Canada won’t lose a game in the Worlds. I wonder if people at large realize how much Crosby is doing for Hockey Canada? Star players rarely go to the Worlds, but this Team Canada is almost an Olympic roster, in part because of Crosby. That’s an important thing, especially in the wake of the trial in London.

Let’s dive into the Penguins’ rebuild. The top-six lineup spots are set for next season, but there’s a gaggle of players for third and fourth line duty; the players picked up in the rebuilding trades, prospects, and hockey trades. There are two forgotten options, but are they good enough for the Penguins lineup?

That’s a foundational column. We’ll get laser-focused next week.

Steelers Now: Let’s talk about Will Howard, the rookie QB drafted in the sixth round from Ohio State. Sorry, THE Ohio State. He’s got an adjustment ahead to Arthur Smith and the Steelers offense.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: The Pirates have the sixth overall pick in this summer’s MLB Draft. Danny Demilio starts looking at the prospects at the top of the draft and who could be the next sacrificial lamb Pirates prospect.

WPXI: I’d also like to credit the Sports and Exhibition Authority for their report on the Pirates’ bungling of the memorial bricks. Their investigation showed the Pirates were given an opportunity to save the bricks, but…didn’t.

Such an inept organization. Truly staggering incompetence at the top. For a second movie quote, in the immortal words of The Bobs, “What is it you say you do here?”

NHL Rumors, News, & National Hockey Now

TSN: We’ll start with the 2018 Team Canada sexual assault trial in London. The Crown (the prosecution) produced the text chat amongst several players. It was a big moment, but (in my opinion) it didn’t do the prosecution any favors as the texts allowed the defendants to essentially testify without testifying.

I deleted a couple of comments on the matter yesterday. Reminder to keep your language and responses suitable for public consumption.

NHL.com: Goodbye, Capitals. They had a plucky season that defied expectations. In the end, Carolina’s relentless, RELENTLESS puck pressure and solid goaltending were too much, and it was over in Game 5.

When I talk to the Penguins about playing Carolina, I usually get a visceral reaction. It’s not fun. They’re not a heavy team, but they are always in your face. No room to play in October or May.

Sportsnet: The Winnipeg Jets survived their Game 5 against Dallas by playing a precise and energetic game. And Connor Hellebuyck looked like a pretty good goalie, too. Here’s how Winnipeg did it.

Vegas Hockey Now: The post-mortems are beginning as the Edmonton Oilers basically stuffed the VGK in the trunk of a Cadillac, drove them to Lake Mead, and dumped the body, Bugsy style. Hannah Kirkell has the four big reasons it is OVER for the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Athletic ($): The nuclear football has been presented, codes entered, and the fans have their finger on the button to launch both Fat Man and Little Boy. Perhaps the organization is also getting ready to blow it up if the Maple Leafs again fail to advance past Round Two.

Toronto Sun: Former NHL’er Rick Vaive had to get a few things off his chest. He wrote that it’s time for Mitch Marner to go–the Maple Leafs should easily say goodbye.

Colorado Hockey Now: The Penguins wouldn’t mind if he stays out West, but the Colorado Avalanche are debating the future of Brock Nelson. Should they keep him or let him walk? The rocky offseason begins for the Avalanche.