Dan’s Daily: Evander Kane Sucker Punch, Can Penguins Get Faster?

The lone Stanley Cup playoff game Saturday was not exactly competitive. The Edmonton Oilers power play is the greatest ever, and they’re buckling the Vegas Golden Knights with the man advantage. Evander Kane delivered a few sucker punches to Keegan Kolesar, and the Golden Knights vowed not to forget. The New York Rangers and Gerard Gallant parted ways, the NHL trade rumors have officially begun around Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck, and we’ll look at the top 60 NHL draft prospects.

The Oilers power play is spectacular, yet you don’t see flat-footed standing or slow puck movement. It’s crisp, attacking, and the point rarely holds the puck.

There’s no reason the talent contained therein with the Penguins can’t borrow some lessons and at least be closer to 25% or more consistent.

For the record, I’m pretty sure Penguins fans would go nuts with the number of blue-line turnovers that Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid commit. It seems like a lifetime ago that Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were that dominant.

Pittsburgh Penguins:

After comparing the Penguins to the teams remaining in the playoffs, the task is clear for the next Penguins GM.

Steelers Now:

An edge rusher — the Steelers are on the shortlist for Kyle Van Noy.

Mike Tomlin invited J.J. Watt to the Steelers’ practice facility.

And the Steelers invited an All-American discus thrower. Steelers camp news.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now:

Uh oh. Another loss to the Blue Jays. The Pittsburgh Pirates losing streak hits six.

PBN+: Johan Oviedo’s struggles boil down to this one thing. Pirates analysis.

NHL Trade Chatter, News & National Hockey Now:

Vegas Hockey Now: Face plant. The Golden Knights no-showed in a 5-1 Game 2 loss. Leon Draisaitl scored two more. So did Connor McDavid. The Vegas Golden Knights recap.

The drama came late in the second period. “If you want to f— around,” — sucker punches by Evander Kane.

The snap analysis and grades from T-Mobile Arena. Some alarming trends for the Golden Knights.

Sportsnet: This is how fierce the goaltending market will be — Ryan Dixon rolls through seven teams which could land Connor Hellebuyck. The Penguins didn’t make the list.

I suppose it’s time we all start paying attention to the draft prospects. Here are the top 60.

Montreal Hockey Now: With salary cap space to burn, the Montreal Canadiens can be salary cap brokers — and in that realm, here are the top Canadiens trade targets.

TSN: Gerard Gallant wasn’t fired, technically. He and the Rangers “mutually parted ways.”

LA Hockey Now: Some critical free agents. Who stays, and who goes? The LA Kings offseason ahead.

Calgary Hockey Now: The last person out of Calgary, turn off the lights. Could the captaincy convince Mikael Backlund to stay?

The Athletic ($): The Minnesota Wild have a summer of cap hell. Even though he said no, the Athletic writers still wonder if Marc-Andre Fleury would open himself to the NHL trade market for the right suitor.

Gee, who could be the right suitor?