Dan’s Daily: Jarry Back; Sabres on Trade Market; Preds Waive Intriguing Defenseman

The Pittsburgh Penguins begin a long homestretch today, during which seven of their next eight games will be at home … and I’ll have to start making my own meals again. The first 16 games have been a gauntlet of very good teams and road trips, culminating in the Penguins’ impressive win Friday over the Washington Capitals. After the three-game roadie, the Penguins picture is coming into focus, and three big questions are hanging above them. Also, goaltender Tristan Jarry completed his conditioning assignment, but the Penguins have not yet re-assigned Joel Blomqvist, so three goalies will be at practice today.

Elsewhere in the Daily, is the Sidney Crosby-Alex Ovechkin rivalry the best ever? The Buffalo Sabres are scouring the NHL trade market for ways to get better, but teams keep asking about players they don’t want to trade. The Nashville Predators waived an intriguing right-handed defenseman, the Winnipeg Jets are nearly unbeatable and won again, and the Hall of Fame celebrations begin with rings and Jeremy Roenick being bluntly honest.

I’m not sure what I’m going to do with being home for most of the next three weeks. Sure, I have a mountain of laundry that either needs to be folded or washed, but the floor is a good resting place for both piles. I tried to take a few hours in D.C. for me, and my inner child in me had a blast yesterday at the Air & Space Museum hangar near Dulles. I almost caused a scene (but I resisted the temptation) by clotheslining an entire family as the parents encouraged the kids to head toward the Space Shuttle Discovery.

“Do guys want to see the spaceship,” Mom said. OK, fine. Once, I’ll grit my teeth. Then Dad chimed in, “How about the spaceship,” and the very core of me wanted to scream at them, “It’s a space SHUTTLE. It’s been space SHUTTLE for 45 years. A spaceship would come down, hover, and have little gray beings with big eyes. They may or may not exist. THAT IS A SHUTTLE, YOU MORONS!”

But I didn’t. Also, the Enola Gay truly is a flying fortress, and it amazed me that people walked past without being smacked by its history. Do they know? If you head to the next Penguins-Capitals game to chant on the steps, take I-79 to 68 and go through Dulles. (Also, it’s 20 minutes longer but about $40 less expensive.)

And now we go home. But the hanger is really cool if you’ve got an inner child. pic.twitter.com/NxXdRT31zz

— Dan Kingerski (@TheDanKingerski) November 9, 2024

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: By all accounts, the conditioning assignment went pretty well until the final night. So, Pittsburgh has three goalies again. Shells has the scoop on Matt Nieto, Tristan Jarry, and the Penguins’ latest transaction.

PHN+: We’re working our tokus off at Hockey Now. Only two outlets did all three games, and we are one of them. Here’s your chance to join the party. No negative ads and no candidates to vote for. Just hockey and more hockey, 365. For our subscribers, I dug a little deeper into the roster construction and the team as it’s shaping up. There are three very real questions hanging over the Penguins, and none of them involve the performance of the goalies. The real issues, opportunities, problems, and everything else are herein for the Penguins season.

Use code Dan10 to save 10 bucks. Screw the tech giants who sometimes keep us from you. Join us directly.

Steelers Now: Here’s the gameday sheet. The injury updates, broadcast info, betting lines and everything else for the Steelers game.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: If only Pittsburgh had a major league team. Anyway, here’s a fun read. Danny Demilio rolls through the top 50 MLB free agent predictions.

NHL Trade Talk, News, & Hockey Now

32 Thoughts Podcast: There’s always a lot in the pod, but some stuff on the Flyers and the GM meetings tomorrow but also the Buffalo Sabres are prowling the NHL trade block. The problem is everyone wants what they’re not selling, such as Dylan Cozens. So, here’s the trade scoop.

GMs are increasingly unwilling to acknowledge the media in public (I have first-hand experience). Of course, being in the most hated profession kind of suits me. Maybe I should have been a lawyer.

Pro Hockey Rumors: The Nashville Predators put defenseman Dante Fabbro on waivers Saturday. He’ll be claimed or clear waivers at 2 p.m. today. As a righty, he’s valuable, but at $2.5 million, not many, if any, teams can swallow that.

I’ve been up and down Puckpedia.com, but I can’t see how the Penguins can claim him. Believe me, I’ve tried. It would help them, but there isn’t a way. I’m also curious if that’s why Dubas went to Washington on Wednesday—was it to see Fabbro and see if something could be worked out? We’ll never know.

TSN Video: Bruce Boudreau weighs in on the debate. Is Crosby-Ovechkin the best rivalry ever?

Also, from TSN, the Hall of Fame ceremony is tomorrow. Jeremy Roenick is finally getting into the Hall. Count me as a big fan of the player and someone who can testify to his character. Sure, he made some jokes that colleagues didn’t like, and it cost him his job, but he’s a beauty. His reaction to getting in? “It’s about f***ing time!” TSN had a good chat and story on Roenick going into the Hall of Fame.

People in hockey worry way too much about whether others like you.

CBC: The Winnipeg Jets are an unstoppable wagon. They’re rolling with 14 wins in 15 games, which set the record for the best start in NHL history. Connor Hellebuyck is in the Hart Trophy conversation, and it’s a sunny day in the ‘Peg.

New Jersey Hockey Now: Apparently, the New York Islanders can only beat the Penguins. Jack Hughes was the difference as the Devils beat the Islanders. Get the takeaways and the updates from the good and improving New Jersey Devils.

Philly Hockey Now: It’s been weak and weary midnight dreary, but a good road trip might just be the spark that ignites the Philadelphia Flyers.