Dan’s Daily: Kadri Adds to Babcock Stories; Goalie Fallout; Penguins Splat

The Pittsburgh Penguins had high hopes and confidence after a shining preseason and enthusiastic training camp. Those hopes were dashed on the rocks of mistakes and a superior team as they lost to the New York Rangers in an embarrassingly lopsided home opener, 6-0. We’ve got full coverage before heading to Detroit this morning for Game No. 2. There is a spreading fallout around the league from the goalie contracts, including the Ottawa Senators taking a big leap of faith with Linus Ullmark and Igor Shesterkin asking for bank. And Nazem Kadri added to the coach Mike Babcock horror stories.

I wanted to do a Penguins locker room story last night or early this morning, but the late game, combined with the lack of stories and game tonight, caused it to be the first story casualty of the regular season. I had a bunch of stories started but never finished in preseason, too. Maybe someday, the world will come with a pause button.

We’re off to Detroit today. Then Toronto. Then Montreal. Our old friend and original partner at PHN, Matt Gajtka, is going to chip in with some live postgame shows on YouTube (we’ve got a few more offers to make for video content on the network).

Let’s steer into a sensitive topic. Booing. 10 minutes into Game 1? Really? There was one section, specifically one fan, who led the charge, but good lord almighty, that was just short of ridiculous. Booing in the third period, maybe, but the first when the Penguins were outplaying the Rangers?! Now–here I know many of the responses, “They have the right,” “It was the same as last year,” and “They stunk.’

All of those statements are true, but it’s not the same team as last year, and the boos began in the first period when the Penguins were outshooting and outchancing their opponent. It created an ugly atmosphere that didn’t need to be. The team is retooling. I will cover them aggressively and fairly; no sugar, but no premature arson, either. I don’t know what the boobirds expect for this season, but whatever it is, accepting some bad is part of the deal. I didn’t ask, but I guarantee the players noticed, and it most likely did not have a motivating effect.

Those same fans could have had a good time, been creative, cheered for Evgeni Malkin to get a goal or two to reach 500, or so many other things that would have enhanced the fan experience rather than quickly souring the punch. Go ahead, rip me. But I get mad as hell at boorish behavior that might make others not return.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Welp, No. 2 on the list certainly factored into the decision. Here are the three players who could lift or sink the Penguins season.

The Penguins flopped in the opener. Silly mistakes led to Rangers goals. And more Rangers goals. Here is the Penguins postgame recap.

The report card. We graded and broke down the power play and one issue contained therein, the new players, and the overall effort, including some notes for coach Mike Sullivan. It’s all in the Penguins report card.

PHN Video: The goofs, the good, and the big worries. If you’re more of the video sort- from the arena, the Penguins postgame video. Or you can watch Gajtka’s live postgame with plenty of fan reaction.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Another season of no improvement. Another season of mediocrity. It’s now or never. Make or break time for Pittsburgh Pirates GM Ben Cherrington.

SN+: Short and sweet–the biggest factors in the troubling two-game Steelers’ losing streak.

NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now

TSN: Nazem Kadri is releasing a book next week, and it’s going to be an honest accounting that is uplifting and inspiring. Therein are more details of former coach Mike Babcock’s incredible behavior. Tyrannical might only begin to describe it. Kadri delivered a bit more behind-the-scenes information about Babcock’s actions and the team’s reactions.

Ottawa Hockey Now: Big money, big money, no whammies, and stop! The Ottawa Senators needed goaltending, and they got it in the offseason when they picked up Linus Ullmark from division rival the Boston Bruins. However, until yesterday, Ullmark was going to be a free agent next July. That ended when the Senators ponied up the cash, and Ullmark accepted. Here are the details of Linus Ullmark’s contract.

32 Thoughts: Shesterkin wants over $12 million?! Perhaps I shouldn’t be too quick to judge because he was the difference in the first period, which became the difference in the game Wednesday against the Penguins. While Tristan Jarry allowed a couple of stoppable goals, Shesterkin stopped a couple of should-be goals. The goalie money, the fallout, predicting the awards, and playoff predictions from Elliotte Friedman.

Montreal Hockey Now: Goalie Sam Montembeault made 48 saves in a 1-0 shutout win over Toronto. And Cole Caufield paid tribute to Johnny Gaudreau. It was a big night for the Montreal Canadiens.