Dan’s Daily: Kessel Hunting for PTO; Penguins Improvements

Would someone give Phil Kessel a job or at least a tryout? The people’s champion and three-time Stanley Cup winner is hunting for work and willing to take a PTO. Former Pittsburgh Penguins draftee Daniel Sprong is catching some momentum with the Vancouver Canucks. Igor Shesterkin wants big money from the New York Rangers, and by big, he means historically big. And we’ve got the full wrap from the Penguins camp, including needed improvements and a pair of draft picks sent back to their junior teams.

So, I wrote a thing for our Pirates site that is going semi-viral. I’ll put the story below, but I’ll explain the emotion behind it. We all know Pittsburgh can’t compete with the Boston, New York, and LA baseball franchises regarding salary. Still, so many of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ contemporaries are able to be competitive in long spurts. Instead, a guy who didn’t earn his billion dollars but is taking it from taxpayers and the hard work of baseball teams is driving away the local fanbase until there is nothing left.

For all of its faults, the NHL was willing to miss a season to institute a cap ceiling AND a cap floor. Even teams like Florida can win a Stanley Cup and again be the favorites because they can afford to keep the team together. The Penguins were able to remain in Pittsburgh, and the sport is better for it.

The Pirates? They won’t pay a $200,000 bonus because a small-town newspaper owner is enamored with putting the cash in his pocket so his family is set up for generations to come, and for some reason, baseball allows him to do it. It’s time fans really show their displeasure. Stop worrying about what Nutting will do if you don’t show up, and start paying attention to what he’s able to do because you do show up.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Mike Sullivan gave an unusually descriptive answer about the improvements he wants from Kevin Hayes. Sullivan also dropped a pretty big comparison to a smaller prospect. It’s in the Penguins locker room feature.

Hello Drew O’Connor. Sullivan swapped out the lines again Wednesday, and O’Connor returned to a familiar position. Why the coach did it and what O’Connor wants to show — Here’s the breakdown on the Penguins lines.

If you missed the Live Chat, we stayed on topic Wednesday. The roster battles and the Penguins training camp were the dominant topics, including Rutger McGroarty’s suddenly tenuous spot. Only one trade question. Here you go–the Penguins Live Chat.

And we really didn’t get a good look at second-round pick Tanner Howe. He had to wear the fishbowl after suffering a facial injury before camp (that’s as much as we know). The Penguins made a couple of cuts last night, including sending Howe back to his junior team. The latest Penguins news.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Like many of you, I dream of a day when the Pirates’ ownership sells, and the team tries hard to be competitive. The latest debacle–DFA’ing Rowdy Tellez one game before he reached a $200,000 bonus, is far beyond ridiculous. Dear MLB, end Bob Nutting’s destruction.

Jeff Passan was on Pat McAfee’s show, and he let rip as well. Everyone is rightfully crushing the Pittsburgh Pirates.

SN+: Simple question, and our expert Derrick Bell has the video. How good has George Pickens been this season?

NHL Rumors, News & Hockey Now

NY Post: Igor Shesterkin wants a payday, but not just any big-time payday. According to Larry Brooks, the New York Rangers goalie wants to be the highest-paid goalie ever, as well as the highest-paid player on the team.

Sportsnet: I put this here because I know some of you cling to the ghost of Daniel Sprong. After a lot of teams in the past few years, Sprong is trying to find a home in Vancouver, and he’s off to a pretty good start. He scored a sick goal in the waning minutes for the win Wednesday night.

I know many of you fantasy players have Drew Doughty on their team. Unfortunately, the LA Kings rearguard suffered what looked like a serious leg injury.

Montreal Hockey Now: Hmmmm. The Canadiens are going to be an exciting young team with lots of talent, but maybe not ready for primetime this season. Marc Dumont writes that the Montreal Canadiens need a trade.

Boston Hockey Now: The Bruins are rather enjoying having a big, mean defenseman in their ranks. Nikita Zadorov is showing off his “animal instinct,” and the Boston Bruins are happy.

Detroit Hockey Now: Here’s the million-dollar question, and one that directly affects the Penguins, too: Are the Detroit Red Wings ready for the playoffs?

TSN: Just give the man a chance. Phil Kessel wants a shot this season, and he’s willing to take a PTO to get one.

It’s a sad situation. Coaches tried to warn Kessel that age would catch up with him and he needed to add more layers to his game. Now that he can’t streak down the wing and rip a wrister past the goalie, his value is greatly diminished to the point that no one will even give him a chance.