Dan’s Daily: Islanders, Blues on Trade Market; Penguins Big Changes

The Pittsburgh Penguins beat a pair of bad teams this week, but the process is improving, and Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are pretty, pretty good. We’ve got lots of Penguins coverage from every angle. Elsewhere in the Daily, the New York Islanders are shopping for defensemen. The St. Louis Blues might dominate the NHL trade rumors later this season when they put a few very useable pieces, including goaltender Jordan Binnington, on the market, and Canadian media writes that even Crosby can’t save these Pens.

Quick note–after a month’s absence, I’ll be on WPXI’s Final Word after football tonight. I don’t yet know the topics, though I’m sure the Penguins will be a featured subject.

It will be 65 and sunny today, so enjoy! I guess our city will be on lockdown Monday as both Prez wannabees hit the city as if their campaigns depend on it. My door was knocked on twice on Saturday (no, not by the candidates, which would have been cool). Several years ago, I moved my registration to independent, and so I’ve been getting bombarded by both sides with texts, mailers, and even personalized skywriting.

I’ll be happy when this nonsense is over. I picked my candidate and enthusiastically cast my vote on Friday since I’ll be in New York on Tuesday. A reader made this awesomeness on X Friday. Please note that this is not an invitation to talk politics in the comments unless it’s to donate to my non-existent future campaign.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Penguins buckled down and limited the mistakes. Sidney Crosby scored and scored again. And the Penguins won again. Here’s the Penguins recap.

Montreal Hockey Now: Here’s the game’s flip side from our colleagues in Montreal. Even they marveled at Sidney Crosby.

Kris Letang talked some crap on Crosby, “That freaking mustache.” Letang was in rare form, having some fun at Sid’s expense. We had to cut the last line from the video because he also used a naughty word that begins with F, but Crosby and Nedeljkovic also talked about the improved performance. Get the raw video and stories in the Penguins locker room feature.

PHN Video: The five-minute Penguins postgame analysis. Or if you want the podcast version, known as No Pucks Given–go here.

Now, here’s the heavy. The team flunked its first test. The first 10-game segment was a big, red F. Here’s what comes next and the potential fallout for the Penguins’ next test.

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NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

The Athletic: The St. Louis Blues could put some meaty choices on the NHL trade block this season if things don’t go their way (and they are not expected to). Who’s on their way out, maybe?

TSN: Make of this what you will. Alex Formenton, one of the Team Canada five accused of sexual assault at the 2018 World Juniors, didn’t get a new contract from the Ottawa Senators and was forced to play abroad before leaving hockey. He didn’t accept his qualifying offer from Ottawa, and now he’s suing his agent for over $20 million.

Hockey Night in Canada: The NHL is finally investigating CTE and getting player involvement. Penguins fans may pay attention to the headline that the New York Islanders are shopping for a defenseman.

Philly Hockey Now: More bad news in Philly. A starting goalie injury and a big opportunity for the netminders behind him. The latest on the Philadelphia Flyers goalies.

New Jersey Hockey Now: I love Canadian hockey fans, especially out west, where it’s part of the culture to create some interesting chants. The “Where is Rutger?” chant in Winnipeg was pretty funny. The Calgary Flames fans jumped all over former Calgary goalie Jacob Markstom Saturday, and the Flames took it to the New Jersey Devils.

Sportsnet: Michael Amado writes in the national publication that not even Crosby can save these Penguins. Here’s some red meat for the glass-half-empty crowd.