Dan’s Daily: Trade Market Changing; Perry’s Big Speech; FSG Emails Penguins Employees

Welcome back my friends, to the show that never ends. Pittsburgh Hockey Now got a pretty good scoop on the Pittsburgh Penguins ownership story, and it is probably a must-read if you would like a clearer picture through the dust and smoke kicked up this week surrounding Fenway Sports Group and Mario Lemieux. Also, the Penguins made a couple of signings later Friday that fans should be pretty happy with. Elsewhere, details are emerging about Corey Perry’s speech that sparked the Edmonton Oilers’ historic comeback, the NHL trade winds are blowing in the wrong direction, especially around Minnesota and Marco Rossi, and Mitch Marner will not be back with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

It’s Saturday morning, and I still rolled off the mat at 6 a.m. to get Dan’s Daily done. I woke up to someone DM’ing me this bit of soccer fan awesomeness. You’ll notice there are not dozens of cutaways to see if Taylor Swift approves of the action, nor are the fans playing on their phones or heading for the exits in the second half, though the Brits also have a chant for fans who need to beat the traffic.

When fans leave early, the futbol fans chant, “Is there a fire drill?” I love that one, too, and I will find a way to pay each of you who chant, “Is there a fire drill?” when fans leave with 10 minutes to go in the third period of a close game. The next few years are as much about rebuilding Penguins fan culture as it is the team. Generation Next and the student rush built a base that lasted well into the next decade. I wish I could do something to help build something more permanent that is passed down from generation to generation–Pittsburgh watches hockey as much as Canada, now you and I need to institutionalize having as much fun and learning the nuts and bolts of the game. The comments on the Boko Imama story Friday afternoon reminded me that we have work to do.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Multiple groups are interested in a limited (minority) partnership with Fenway Sports Group. PHN obtained an email sent to Penguins employees seeking to reassure them that FSG is not selling. Here’s the full story in the latest chapter of the fast-moving story regarding Mario Lemieux, FSG, and the Penguins’ ownership.

Hey, who doesn’t want Mario back? However, I’m going to remain skeptical of this until there’s something more tangible from Lemieux’s side. It was otherwise a great week for the Penguins, who announced coach Dan Muse. If you’re just catching up, go back and check out my story on his press conference and why he got the Penguins coaching job.

Anyway, general manager Kyle Dubas delivered some contracts on Friday. First to prospect Melvin Fernstrom, and then to tough guy Boko Imama.

I don’t think Penguins fans should get too excited about Fernstrom yet. He’s got a long way to go before he’s ready to excel in North American hockey, but he does have some pretty good instincts.

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

The Athletic ($): One of those trade targets that you and I have been watching closely might come off the market. Joe Smith reports that Minnesota isn’t happy with the market for centers, and so MN management might reconsider their stance on Rossi.

Sportsnet: There is a fish that saved Pittsburgh, and now a speech that saved the Edmonton Oilers. Corey Perry stood up and delivered a speech that sparked his teammates to overcome a 3-0 deficit and win Game 4. The boys are talking about what he said in that speech.

Cam and Strick Podcast: I’m a big fan of the podcast. Andy Strickland is a reporter, so he knows what he’s doing, and he doesn’t put nonsense reports into the ether to prove that he knows the security guard’s ex-girlfriend’s dog groomer who works in the building next to the arena. He put this out:

Can confirm Mitch Marner will not be returning to Toronto. Will be playing for a new team come next season. #LeafsForever

— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) June 13, 2025

TSN: Mark Messier. Evgeni Malkin. Leon Draisaitl. Recency bias aside, there is a good debate on the best sidekick of all time. However, I think, like most debates, Malkin gets the short shrift in that one, too. TSN debates–is Draisaitl the best No. 2 ever?

New Jersey Hockey Now: James Nichols is shopping with Tom Fitzgerald’s cap space. The Colorado Avalanche have a cap problem, and the New Jersey Devils have some roster problems. Could that lead to a spiffy Devils trade?

Boston Hockey Now: It’s a minor trade as splashy headlines go. A former first-round pick from Chicago for a pick and a prospect. It’s a change of scenery that could help the Boston Bruins.

Philly Hockey Now: We know Dubas likes this kid, but the odds are the Penguins won’t get anywhere near him. Will James with help from Matt Meagher have the video analysis and scouting of Porter Martone.