Dan’s Daily: Cold Trade Offers, Babcock Remorse, New Penguins GM

We’re 24 hours away from the opening of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ second and last chance if president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas deems a buyout necessary to get beneath the 2023-24 salary cap. Otherwise, we’ll spend weeks speculating about a necessary Penguins trade. The NHL trade market has fittingly gone cold in Winnipeg, sources tell Boston Hockey Now that David Krejci is retiring, and Mike Babcock admitted fault with previous tactics.

And yes, Dubas is now the Penguins’ GM, too.

Here’s a little road trip recommendation. I made my reservations today and am heading back north next week. There’s a “new moon” on Aug. 16 (the opposite of a full moon), and the Milkway Galaxy will be visible in Chery Springs State Park in Potter County if the skies allow it. I may or may not test some wineries and will definitely try to find some good BBQ on the way.

If you’ve got a good BBQ recommendation on the way to God’s country or just a really good Burger King, lemme know (and yes, I know about the Happy Cow in Tionesta. If you look at the inside of the front door, you’ll see my autograph).

I’m unsure if I really want hockey back or need a few more weeks off.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Front office promotions, including Trevor Daley. And a “new Penguins GM.

Wednesday, Dubas signed Drew O’Connor. With the new contract, Dubas started the clock. Two options remain, including a Penguins trade.

It’s time to take a good look at the prospects. Here are the dark horses and the falling Penguins’ prospects.

SteelersNow:

The battle between George Pickens and Joey Porter Jr. has been the talk of camp. Tempers have flared, and they did again Thursday, but this time coach Mike Tomlin declared a resounding winner at Steelers camp.

Nick Farabaugh is one of the best football analysts in town. Here are the takeaways from Latrobe, including the Steelers’ passing game.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now:

Quickie Recap — National TV and Mitch Keller on the hill. Things went badly, very badly, for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The trade deadline is over. When will Ben Cherrington and the Pirates draw a line?

NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now:

Washington Hockey Now: Evgeny Kuznetsov kind of confirmed but also refuted some of those NHL trade rumors.

Vegas Hockey Now: A little fun — the top-five Vegas Golden Knights trades.

TSN: The NHL trade market has gone cold for Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele.

Boston Hockey Now: Sources tell Jimmy Murphy that, indeed, David Krejci will hang up his Boston Bruins skates.

Before he signed with the Bruins, the Maple Leafs and Blackhawks tried to sign Milan Lucic.

Sportsnet: The Edmonton Oilers have a new CEO of hockey operations, and he’s Connor McDavid-approved.

In a radio interview, Mike Babcock admitted wrongdoing in his past tactics and actions.

Philly Hockey Now: Oh, Matvei Michkov will be a player. He lit up the scoreboard in a KHL preseason game.

Keith Jones says Sean Couturier and Cam Atkinson will be full goes in training camp, but is Ryan Ellis done? The Philadelphia Flyers updates.