Dan’s Daily: UFA Rumors; New Hall of Famers; Penguins Trade Opps

The Pittsburgh Penguins closed the loop on one trade when the New York Rangers delivered their 2025 first-round pick via the Vancouver Canucks to close the Penguins Marcus Pettersson/Drew O’Connor deal, and instantly the Penguins had a few new trade options, as well. We explored those ideas via video and took a look at general manager Kyle Dubas’s options to swap bad contracts to potentially get rid of one of the Penguins’ bad contracts, but still get a little better. Elsewhere, the Hockey Hall of Fame announced its new members, and Alexander Mogilny finally made it, but the Hall surprisingly snubbed a few others. The latest UFA rumors have Carolina making a big play for Mitch Marner, and Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams tried to quell some misinformation, but he merely stirred the trade rumors surrounding JJ Peterka.

Things are quiet. Too quiet.

The smoke has begun to billow, but it’s still black smoke from the chapel of the trade rumors, and it feels like one thing needs to happen to set in motion the cascading trades and reactions. Marner is going to be a big one, but from this keyboard, I cannot fathom teams being anxious to pay him Leon Draisaitl money. I just don’t think he is worth that kind of a haul, and I’d politely pass to focus on others.

Seriously, how is Rickard Rakell not a red-hot name on the NHL trade block? I’m sure Dubas is a bit surprised, but I’m compelled to believe that a team will wake up and realize that despite some mediocre seasons, he’s got gobs of talent … and costs comparative peanuts.

We’ll talk about all of that and probably lots more on today’s Penguins Live Chat at 1:05 p.m.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: First things first. Hello, additional first-round pick. The Penguins will get the Rangers’ 2025 first-rounder, so here’s the story and the snap Penguins analysis.

Are you ready to schedule some road trips to watch the prospects play hockey? The first signs of life were released yesterday-here’s the Penguins’ preseason schedule.

With a highlight and scouting video package by Matt Meagher, let’s take a look at one potential big get for the Penguins. He is 6-foot-6 right-handed Czech defenseman Radim Mrtka.

I originally published the story, attributing Mrtka as a lefty, and corrected it. I will admit that handedness is a massive blind spot for me. I’m working on it.

And lastly, what I had planned as the big story on Tuesday before the steady drips of news was the possibilities of trading bad contracts. A few buyout candidates are floating around the league who might be able to make the Penguins better, ot at least Dubas could profit by facilitating a salary dump. The Penguins also have a couple of bad contracts to shed, and there’s one intriguing target in Carolina, so here are a few potential Penguins trade targets.

Steelers Now: Aaron Rodgers didn’t play coy or waffle. He’s going to empty the tank this season, then retire. He talked about why he signed with the Steelers, but dropped the news that this is it for him. Here’s the big Steelers news.

Also in Steelers land, Diontae Johnson freely admitted that he refused to go into a game against Baltimore because he was cold. Where do the Steelers keep finding these people?! It was 41 degrees, not below zero. Here’s the story that you gotta read–Another Steelers WR problem.

PBN+: A Q&A that is heavy on the A. Why is Ben Cherrington allowed to handle the draft and the trade deadline? That’s the biggie. Danny Demilio handles the big issues for Now subscribers (Just log in). Get started on the Pirates’ trade deadline plans.

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

Sportsnet: Let’s start with the latest updates and rumors on the Top 12 UFAs, and of course, Marner is No. 1, but Nikolaj Ehlers and Brad Marchand are quite prominent on the market now. There are also swirling rumors that Vladislav Gavrikov is ready to sign with the Rangers (How can they talk?!). It seems Marchand’s Cup Final performance probably earned him a few extra million.

TSN: Joe Thornton is headed to the Hall. So, too, is Alexander Mogilny, but not Carey Price. It’s an interesting Hockey Hall of Fame class that will be inducted this fall.

Lots of people have been pushing Mogilny. I’ve been pushing Keith Tkachuk. He was the premier power forward in a dead puck era. Also, I’m starting to feel like playing for the Penguins is hurting Sergei Gonchar’s candidacy because the success of that team overshadows how good he was with the Capitals prior to signing with the Penguins.

NYI Hockey Now: It was a bit of an emotional day on Long Island. Matt Martin retired, but new GM Mathieu Darche immediately hired him as an assistant to pretty much everything. Martin is going to have his hands full next season, but he won’t be slamming any Penguins to the ice. Here is the Islanders news.

Philly Hockey Now: It’s a very fair question, and one that will continue to be answered, but GM Daniel Briere is trying. What are the Philadelphia Flyers getting with Trevor Zegras?