Dan’s Daily: Robertson Signs; Sabres Trade Paralysis; Penguins’ Unheralded

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Nick Robertson came to a contract agreement Saturday, avoiding today’s arbitration hearing, and the money ever so slightly favorited the team, meaning Robertson is probably stuck in Toronto for another year. We had some fun Saturday and looked at the five most underappreciated Pittsburgh Penguins. The Buffalo Sabres’ paralysis by analysis and failure is becoming evident as they dabble on the NHL trade market but have not gone ahead with any real changes. Some writers are making the case that Erik Karlsson could be the Detroit Red Wings’ missing piece, the Calgary Flames still haven’t signed RFA Conor Zary, and should the Montreal Canadiens extend or trade Mike Matheson?

Matheson was the iceberg on which the Penguins-Hextall ship started to sink. Looking back at it, I think we gave it a slight endorsement because of Jeff Petry’s offensive skills, but lamented the loss of speed. The reality was that Petry was no longer the offensive defenseman capable of 5o or more points, and Matheson blossomed in Montreal and became a physical, fast, feisty D-man capable of a solid 30+ points. Yep, whoops.

I wish I had a great travel story for you today. Instead, I also have a whoops. I hit the West Virginia countryside with a vengeance. Some of those roads were made by crazy people, and I love it, but there weren’t many opportunities for photos of the mountain views. I rolled across the best front yard action scene–somewhere between Clarksburg and Jane Lew on Rt. 19, someone built a Snoopy and the Red Baron action scene with Snoopy flying the famous red Fokker Dr.I triplane.

It was far enough off the road that you can’t see it until you pass it, and I had a mission to complete, so I didn’t circle back to take a picture. I got a late jump yesterday, not leaving until 3 p.m., and the tight, twisting country roads to Jane Lew for my top secret mission awaited. There’s a little hot dog place in Jane Lew from which my friend, who is from the tiny town, jokingly told me to bring him back some dogs. He didn’t know I was going to, and I didn’t, because I didn’t arrive until after 6 p.m., and they closed at 4. Double whoops. So, here are my best pictures of the day: A closed hot dog shop and an absolutely empty downtown Clarksburg with nary an open restaurant in sight. So, I stopped at Outback on I-79 on the way home. It was that or Burger King. Sometimes you win, sometimes you absolutely whiff.

I did discover some old coal mine towns, one called Idamay still had the old general store standing, the big porch still intact, even as the lumber had long ago gone gray and black. It was abandoned, as were a fair number of the houses that I whizzed past. In some parts, off-road vehicles outnumbered cars. It’s just different down there.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: I figured I’d get a few more suggestions, and I am here for it. Tyler Kennedy was on my list, but didn’t make the top five. I nearly put Jack Johnson on the list, but I didn’t want to give some of you a heart attack. So, in the Sidney Crosby era, here are the Top 5 under-appreciated Pittsburgh Penguins.

Steelers Now: The tradition–under the lights on Friday night. Full pads. Full go. Derrick Bell has his takeaways on who shined under the lights for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Just disgusting what this team has become. GM Ben Cherington said the Yankees offered better players for Bednar, but they liked that A-Ball package best. He also said that was the best they could do. Good grief. On the field, the Buccos swatted more big homers, but lost … again. You can give a good hate read for your Pittsburgh Pirates.

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

We’ll start with Frank Seravalli discussing something that I think is becoming popular opinion on the Buffalo Sabres. They can’t make trades because everyone they trade away succeeds elsewhere, and they have a roster that should be more competitive.

The Buffalo Sabres still have work to do before becoming competitive again 👀 (w/ @frank_seravalli) pic.twitter.com/1jobrxFKm7

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) July 29, 2025

Calgary Sun: RFA Conor Zary and the Calgary Flames are far apart on contract negotiations, but don’t fire up the NHL trade rumors just yet. GM Craig Conroy told reporters to simmer down, that a new deal will get done because those contracts always do.

The Hockey Writers: I don’t often link to THW because it’s mostly a spot for aspiring writers (and that’s a good thing), but there was a column I stopped to read. Is Erik Karlsson the missing piece for the Detroit Red Wings? There is a case to be made.

Colorado Hockey Now: Trade Sam Girard? Aarif Deen has three under-the-radar storylines still percolating for the Colorado Avalanche.

Sportsnet: Signed, sealed, delivered, for one more year. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Nick Robertson avoided what would have been a slobberknocker of an arbitration hearing today by signing a one-year deal. Robertson wanted $2.5 million, and the team had countered with $1.5 million. The sides met around $1.8 million.

TSN Radio: What should the Montreal Canadiens do with Mike Matheson? Extend him? Trade him? Frankie Corrado does some radio talking on what comes next for Matheson and the Canadiens?

Florida Hockey Now: After two Stanley Cups and several Stanley Cup Final appearances, George Richards writes that it is time for the rat-tossing franchise to start its own Ring of Honor. And here is who should start off the Florida Panthers ring.