Dan’s Daily: Who’s Next on Trade Block; Marchand Schools Oilers; Penguins Path

Brad Marchand might go down as one of the great deadline additions of the 21st century. The little ball of agitation popped a couple more goals, and the Florida Panthers schooled the Edmonton Oilers in Game 5. Elsewhere, who is next on the NHL trade block, the Anaheim Ducks are trying to be movers and shakers, and the St. Louis Blues could part with Jordan Kyrou. Lastly, we dug into all things Pittsburgh Penguins from the ownership story to Rickard Rakell trade chatter, as well as a quote from Sidney Crosby that I didn’t use during the season.

I was working on a story on fighting back in March and asked Crosby and the Penguins’ former coach, as well as Boko Imama. I forget exactly what other stories popped up, but I never finished it. It might have been the long walk in the pouring rain in St. Louis or a three-mile walk in Dallas because Maps tried to take me to my hotel near the airport through a gated community that was not accessible. Or I might have just blown it off to eat at Luke’s Italian Beef in Chicago–still the best meal I had all year. I was hoping the Penguins re-signed Imama so I could finally use the quotes!

Also, wow. Never criticize the networks or Taylor Swift unless you’re prepared for hundreds and hundreds of corporate bots to attack like unsupervised children in the apocalypse. They all stuck to three scripts, over and over and over. After a few days of ignoring the persistent useful idiots, Ol’ Dan got a few good shots as I decided to play Rowdy Roddy Piper for a minute. Still, even this morning, I had to block another half dozen. The total number of blocks on X was in the hundreds–none actually followed me, and so many had real-looking accounts until you looked at their tweets, which were mostly hype for Swift.

Of course, it’s on the networks for using her, but isn’t it amazing that we media know she’s going to a game before she goes? Makes you wonder how much popularity is real and how much is manufactured or contrived, eh?

I wish my indie bands like Lord Huron or Houndmouth had a small sliver of the corporate monster behind them. Rozwell Kid is playing Bottlerocket Social Hall on Friday. They’re from WV and semi-famous for the relationship song, Eating Tacos and Watching UHF. Get tickets here.

Happy Father’s Day.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: This week’s Three Thoughts focused on the rumblings that the LA Kings had and have an interest in Rickard Rakell. Also, more on Imama and the Penguins’ ownership saga.

If you missed the scoop on Friday, we obtained emails sent by Fenway Sports Group to team employees, which clearly stated their position on this matter. The Penguins want limited partners, have interested parties, and are not for sale.

Steelers Now: Takeaways from Day 3 of mini-camp. Peyton Wilson is trying to make an impression on your Steelers defense.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: The Buccos lost despite a good pitching performance. It’s unbelievable that GM Ben Cherrington thought he had an adequate offense in the offseason. Anyway, John Perrotto makes a fierce yet sad comparison between a Pirates great and Paul Skenes.

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

Florida Hockey Now: One win. One more 60-minute effort to win one more game. The Stanley Cup is so close, those rat-tossing, rat-shooting band of misfits and miscreants can taste it. Game 5 was all Florida Panthers.

While we were nervously awaiting a singer’s approval in Game 4, Florida fans were still seething that TNT didn’t show their watch party after goals in Games 1 and 2. TNT corrected that for Game 5, and the Florida Panthers fans got their due.

Anyone else quite happy that Florida seems to be building a fanbase? They had good attendance at regular-season games, and they’re holding watch parties with more people than you can fit into the local Applebee’s. That’s awesome.

TSN: The Anaheim Ducks have Joel Quenneville behind the bench, tons of cap space, and a desire not to stink. Anaheim took the Chris Kreider salary dump, but now they’re on the hunt for bigger talent.

Sportsnet: The latest trade rumors are the Dallas Stars pulling back on the Jason Robertson trade talk, the Vancouver Canucks still pondering what to do with Elias Pettersson, and the next steps for the New York Rangers. Isn’t it weird that the Penguins are not in these rumors?

NHL TR: I’m using an aggregator story because the news came via a podcast. Frank Seravalli opined that Jordan Kyrou is on his way out in St. Louis and is available.

I won’t speak for you, but every time I see Kyrou, I’m impressed. He’s not going to carry a team like St. Louis hoped he would, so, gee, perhaps he’d be better on a club with a Hall of Fame center who carries the team instead?

Montreal Hockey Now: If he doesn’t sign with his hometown Winnipeg Jets, where could Jonathan Toews sign? How about a perfect fit to play with the kids, but not be needed as a savior–the Montreal Canadiens?

Vegas Hockey Now: Hannah Kirkell is killing it this month. She’s sinking her teeth into the problems and possibilities facing the VGK. Offseason trades and free agency–here’s what is needed to address the three biggest Vegas Golden Knights needs.