Dan’s Daily: Thwarted Rangers Trade; Penguins Cha-Changes

The Pittsburgh Penguins are getting into the competitive portion of training camp and their preparations for the coming season. The potential changes to the team identity and style are emerging. So, too, are prospects emerging, and their competitive fire was showing as they chatted with Pittsburgh Hockey Now. Elsewhere in the Daily, reports indicate Jacob Trouba scuttled New York Rangers trades this summer, leading to one last shot for the Rangers’ core before being broken up next summer. Will Nazem Kadri stick around through a rocky Calgary Flames rebuild? And, we’ll roll around the Metro Divison training camp launches.

Part of my job covering the Penguins is imparting what I see and some of the inside experiences so you get a sense of the people and personalities involved. Otherwise, they’re just faceless jerseys, eh?

I can confirm that the new crop of players are pretty easygoing, good kids. One nugget in yesterday’s story that just cracked me up was how hard Tristan Broz took losing. He was miserable after losing in the development camp in July, and he was sitting in his locker stall hating the world Friday after his Team Yellow lost 6-1.

Broz made a nifty play in which he toe-dragged around Marcus Pettersson and snapped a good wrister on Alex Nedeljkovic. I told him that was a nifty little play, and his response was, “Yeah, but I hit the goalie right in the chest,” and “We still lost 6-1.”

I assured him that no one records the final scores. I’d love you to join the PHN+ team for our unique content. Use coupon code Dan10 to save $10. Sign up here.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: If you blinked, you may have missed the very subtle but distinct sea change within the Penguins’ roster. Nothing has been concluded, but there is ample raw material for real changes. You can also find out about Matt Grzelcyk’s tattoo and how he used YouTube to prepare for the Penguins’ training camp.

PHN+: Seated elbow to elbow, the Penguins’ best prospects sit together in the auxiliary locker room, from Rutger McGroarty to Owen Pickering and the boys in between. PHN had a chat with the guys–you can see some of the video and get the inside scoop on McGroarty’s “best day so far” and the Penguins’ prospects.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: It was 10 years ago I drank champagne from red solo cups with my son when the Pirates achieved their 82nd win and snapped their 20-year losing record streak. The hapless and revolving management regimes under the suffocating and stingy ownership have stacked losing seasons like a hoarder keeps newspapers. The assassins of baseball fandom in Western Pennsylvania achieved their official futility again Friday–their 28th losing season in the last 32. Yay, Pittsburgh Pirates.

Go ahead, ask me how I feel about the Pirates. Anyone can say they really want to win. The very reasons for limits placed upon efforts are indeed the priorities, not the winning.

Steelers Now: The Steelers’ offensive line was a big problem in the win over the Denver Broncos, and it appears there will be more flux on Sunday. Troy Fautanu is injured again, and Broderick Jones–make sure you’re sitting down–will start. Here’s the latest Steelers news.

NHL Rumors, News & National Hockey Now

NY Post: Larry Brooks reports the New York Rangers had a plan. Over the summer, they were going to retool and get set for the next five years. However, Jacob Trouba blocked trades, and now even Trouba admits this is the current Rangers core’s last chance because next summer, they’re going to be broken up.

Calgary Sun: Real simple. Nazem Kadri is getting into his mid-30s. Will he stick around for the Calgary Flames rebuild, or will he request a trade to play out his last years on a winner?

Now, we’ll keep an eye on the Metro Division camps.

Philly Hockey Now: The Flyers started a day later than the Penguins, so Friday was Day 2, but the camp structure is similar to the Penguins, including a skate test that took the wind out of the boys. Friday, the group scrimmaged. Our Jon Bailey delivered the standouts, analysis on Jamie Drysdale, and who is in the doghouse. Here are Bailey’s Day 2 Flyers observations.

New Jersey Hockey Now: The Devils wanted someone who had a more complete game, while Vegas needed some offensive punch and goaltending depth. The Draft-day trade between the two will be closely watched this season, but James Nichols in New Jersey had very positive initial impressions of the acquired Paul Cotter.

NYI Hockey Now: The New York Islanders have a few interesting storylines going on–they didn’t do much in the offseason, so how will things shakedown? Takeaways and the new players to watch after Day 2 of the Islanders training camp.

Forever Blueshirts: The Rangers and goalie Igor Shesterkin are still talking contract. He might be THE most important player for any team to lock down by next summer, but there’s no deal yet. Shesterkin wants to stay, and the Rangers want him to stay, but now it’s getting dicey in New York.