Dan’s Daily: Penguins’ Letang Gets Candid, Bruins Sign Controversial Player

A sleepy Friday afternoon heavy with Pittsburgh Penguins’ fan consternation quickly became a deep social debate and reaction when the Boston Bruins extended an ELC to a formerly renounced draft pick who severely bullied a mentally challenged classmate. PHN waded into the Penguins’ worries. Shelly Anderson sat down with Kris Letang for a story you will only get on PHN — Letang is torn up over losing, and he offered a surprising reason for his slumping play. A Finnish player had a hat trick for the Colorado Avalanche as the team beat Columbus in Finland. Who else matches up with the Montreal Canadiens on the NHL trade front?

And a former Philadelphia Flyers fourth-liner and Ron Hextall draft pick is on the waiver wire, Nicolas Aube-Kubel.

The Penguins host the Seattle Kraken tonight at PPG. They can’t lose seven, can they?! Technically, this is the worst stretch of coach Mike Sullivan’s Penguins’ tenure. They’ve never before lost six straight, though, in November 2018, they had one win in 10 games. The locker room was bleak back then. I mean, BLEAK.

Pittsburgh Penguins / Steelers, Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Practice report — Mike Sullivan had the boys playing four-on-four, playing opposite-handed, and generally having fun playing hockey. But Jake Guentzel was absent. The full Penguins practice.

PHN+: “It feels like half the season is over.” Guess who might return on Saturday? And he’ll have to jump onto a moving training — Teddy Blueger.

Want to know why Letang has struggled? He was pretty honest with PHN about the reasons and how significantly the losing has affected him. An exclusive story — Kris Letang.

And–real answers. No scapegoating. No pandering. No sugar coating. From Brian Dumoulin, the PK, bottom six, to Ron Hextall. The Pittsburgh Penguins mailbag.

I think the mailbag will add real context and a complete picture.

Steelers Now:

• Former Steelers receiver Antonio Brown shot down CTE questions.
• Hey, maybe they are tanking. And that’s a good thing for the Steelers.
• How does WJ IIII fit with the Steelers?
• This one is a bit crazy, but Ryan Clark says if they have a high pick in the draft, the Steelers need a QB.

PBN+: A somewhat odd way Ke’Bryan Hayes can increase his gold glove chances for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now:

Boston Hockey Now: A former 2020 fourth-round Arizona Coyotes pick, who was renounced after extreme bullying actions became known. Full story — on Friday, the Boston Bruins gave Mitchell Miller another chance.

I believe in grace and the ability to forgive. However, I firmly believe in repentance and making amends first. I’ll leave your opinions on the matter to you, but I will tell you from a media perspective the Bruins did not do an adequate job of discussing or making known the restorative actions.

Montreal Hockey Now: We know the Habs and Capitals have chatted, but which three teams match up best on the NHL trade block with the Montreal Canadiens?

Philly Hockey Now: Wow. Controversy in Philadelphia — In Wayne Fish’s book excerpt, former Flyers defenseman Chris Therien says Eric Lindros let down the Philadelphia Flyers.

Washington Hockey Now: Injuries are piling up. There is inconsistency in the lineup. So, when will the troubles shove GM Brian MacClellan onto the NHL trade market to improve the Washington Capitals?

NYI: Brock Nelson is filling the net. Wins are accumulating. So, what changed for the New York Islanders?

Colorado Hockey Now: Mikko! Mikko! Mikko! Colorado and Columbus are playing two games in Finland, and Finnish winger Mikko Rantanen netted the hat trick. Full story for the Colorado Avalanche.