Dan’s Daily: Penguins Make More Changes, Playoff Race Updates

The Pittsburgh Penguins and coach Mike Sullivan quietly made a significant change at practice Wednesday. The Penguins’ newbies are bringing some different energy and, for now, relying on Nick Bonino for rides around town. Elliotte Friedman noted, and others noticed, the Penguins’ fathers trip will probably never again occur over the NHL trade deadline. We updated the Penguins’ playoff race, Marc-Andre Fleury stole one from the Winnipeg Jets, and the latest RFA rumors and status updates.

So, I’m going to ask a favor. I usually ask you to watch TV, so my ratings don’t stink, or offer a subscription coupon to keep this little engine that could running, but this one is more important than the rest! (Joking.) Every year, the noted Twitter account Joey Bag of Donuts has the March Madness media bracket competition. In the last few years, my Round One draw has been unwinnable. Mike Lange. Stan Savran. Bob Pompeani. And this year? Dan Potash.

It’s all in good fun — Would you help me pull the upset of upsets? I heard Dan hates puppies and loves the Cleveland Browns.

Pittsburgh Media March Madness Tournament #PittsburghMediaMarchMadness
Sports Bracket
Heinz Field Region 1st Round:
1) Dan Potash @ATTSportsNetPIT
Vs
16) Dan Kingerski @TheDanKingerski

(Please vote on whole thread)

— J🍩ey Bag 🍩f D🍩nuts 🍩 (@joeybagovdonuts) March 8, 2023

Pittsburgh Penguins / Steelers, Pirates

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Coach Mike Sullivan put Brian Dumoulin beside Jeff Petry and Marcus Pettersson beside Kris Letang at practice Wednesday. It represented a significant shift. Dave Molinari asked Mike Sullivan about the reasoning. Penguins defense pairs.

The Penguins’ new guys are getting acclimated. There are new systems, new PK, and getting around town is also tough. You can blame Kulikov for the comeback energy, and it seems Sullivan really likes Alex Nylander.

Mikael Granlund and new papa Bryan Rust returned to Penguins practice.

Boston Hockey Now: For an outside perspective on the wild-card race — Jimmy Murphy looks at the potential Boston Bruins playoff opponents.

Steelers Now:

Is there a discipline problem? (Yes). Guess who the most-fined NFL team was in 2022? The Steelers.

Bud Dupree will be available. Does a reunion between Dupree and the Steelers make sense?

Pittsburgh Baseball Now

Nick Gonzalez continued his red-hot Pirates spring training.

Mark Mathias is now a Pirates IF/OF jack of all trades. Check out the Pirates trade.

Tsung-Che Cheng is swinging a hot bat at the WBC. It’s back! The Pirates prospect watch.

NHL News, Penguins Playoff Race, & National Hockey Now:

The Penguins lead the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators by five points. No games in hand. They lead Florida by three points and have two games in hand. The Penguins’ goal-differential is back in black. And now you can sing AC/DC all day.

Ottawa Sun: Bad news for the Senators. Goalie Cam Talbot was sent home and is out for three weeks.

NYI Hockey Now: Tonight, it’s the Penguins and Islanders at PPG. It’s a “need to win” for the New York Islanders.

Florida Hockey Now: With his team a few points back and chasing the Islanders and Penguins, Sergei Bobrovsky will carry the hopes of the Florida Panthers.

32 Thoughts: We often link to Elliotte Friedman’s 32 Thoughts. There’s no better hockey column or podcast going. He wrapped up the NHL trade deadline deals that weren’t, and others noticed the Penguins’ dads trip near the deadline. That probably won’t happen again.

For the record, I noticed a few things about the dads trip. Mr. Joseph always had his camera. It’s a heavyweight piece of equipment. And Mr. Rutta is even bigger than Jan.

Sportsnet: The top 12 RFAs, from Pierre-Luc Dubois and Cole Caufield, and what comes next.

TSN: It’s irrelevant to the Penguins, but Marc-Andre Fleury stole one from Winnipeg. A brilliant 46-save win.

Montreal Hockey Now: His name appeared in several NHL trade rumors, but I don’t think the Penguins were ever credibly tied to Joel Edmundson. He wasn’t dealt, but could be this summer. The Montreal Canadiens have options.

Washington Hockey Now: Conor Sheary was worried about the NHL trade deadline, “the longest 12 hours of my life.” Sheary, the former Penguins winger, opened up about the anxiety of getting traded and his Washington Capitals future.

If he could play the Penguins 82 times a year, he’d be in the Hall of Fame!

Philly Hockey Now: Finally, Tony DeAngelo got the gate for two games after that stick-to-groin spear on Corey Perry Tuesday. Philadelphia Flyers news.