Dan’s Daily: Trades Analysis; Crosby Drops; Penguins Sea Change

The National Hockey Now folks, including Pittsburgh Hockey Now, had our say on the blockbuster trades last week, and now the national folks are weighing the NHL trade analysis on deals involving Rutger McGroarty to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Yaroslav Askarov to the San Jose Sharks. We took the trade to the next level and the cataclysmic sea change of the Penguins’ offseason. Elsewhere in the Daily, NHL.com did their top 20 center rankings, and Sidney Crosby is no longer a top-five center. Martin Necas confirmed the rumors that Columbus and Winnipeg were interested in acquiring him, and Sebastian Aho tried in vain to get Jake Guentzel to stay in Carolina.

The final week of summer begins. What shall we do?

I’d like to thank everyone for the rapidly increasing traffic and comments on PHN. We’re getting back to 2022 levels and rankings. We’ve been the most-read independent publisher for a couple of years running (including Steelers and Pirates coverage), but the last six months in our industry have been a bloodbath.

We’re still digging out, but thank you for sticking with us and coming back, the good, the bad, and everything in between.

I think I’ve earned a last trip up north this week. Maybe an ice cream, moonshine, and Eliot Ness run. Anyone else wanna go?

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The offseason feeling was uneasy, and the projections were negative. And then, in one moment, it seemed everything changed as the Penguins traded for Rutger McGroarty. We’ve laid out the roster glut, but the trade changed the offseason and outlook. Here’s the Penguins analysis.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: He’s in the Pirates Hall of Fame now, and he certainly is one of the best Pirates of the last 40 years (but that surely isn’t a deep pool). John Perrotto asks a serious question–should the Pittsburgh Pirates retire Barry Bonds’ number?

No. And hell no. JP and I disagree on the ‘roiders. “He cheated but not in Pittsburgh” is not a justification. The only way to ensure we don’t go through that nonsense again is to hold the line.

Steelers Now: Nick Herbig had a monster preseason and earned more than a backup role this season. That’s one battle, but there was no winner in another. We’re at the end of the preseason, and here are the Steelers’ takeaways.

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

ESPN+: Ryan Clark contributed his analysis of the Penguins’ trade for ESPN+. Despite Penguins president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas giving up top prospect Brayden Yager in the deal, Clark saw it as a win-win for both sides.

Also for ESPN+, the analyst got into the nuts and bolts of the San Jose Sharks’ acquisition of Askarov. San Jose gave up a good return, but it could spark their rebuild.

Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman cranked out a final 32 Thoughts of the offseason before taking a week to recharge before the season. He had some nuggets from the NHL media tour, including Martin Necas admitting teams were interested and his teammates worked him over to stay. It’s a pretty good wrap-up of the offseason NHL rumors.

Philly Hockey Now: As an offshoot to the 32 Thoughts, we know a little more about the Ryan Johansen situation. Was Johansen’s undisclosed injury for which he didn’t miss time in Colorado, combined with him cutting a rug at his wedding, enough to cancel his contract? Jon Bailey has the Philadelphia Flyers insider update.

Washington Hockey Now: I may have to steal this idea from our Nate Moser. Here we go–the top five undrafted Washington Capitals.

NHL.com: It was pretty tough to argue with these rankings. I would have rated Aho and Crosby one slot higher, but I guess we’re coming to that time. Sidney Crosby is no longer a top-five center. Here is the top 20 center ranking.