Dan’s Daily: KHL Trying to Steal Kaprizov, Metro Goalies Get Paydays

We are most certainly in a new era of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Since the July 28 signing of Brock McGinn, the most exciting news was a fourth liner’s contract and the firing of a goalie coach. So, we’ll rely on the rest of the NHL to provide the drama. The KHL is trying to steal back Kirill Kaprizov with a bananas offer. The New York Rangers, Washington Capitals, and Philadelphia Flyers splashed some cash on their goalies, and Penguins fans will no longer have Mike Lange calling hockey games.

The Hall of Fame broadcaster will be a part of the radio network but no longer be the Pittsburgh Penguins play-by-play.

There are a lot of younger broadcasters around the league and in the minors. Count me (a former play-by-play guy) as disappointed that the prevailing style is antiseptic, bland, dispassionate. For a while, every broadcaster tried to be Mike Lange, but for those that heard him call a hockey game, the game was never the same again.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Before Penguins fans knew Mario, had Sidney, or even Lord Stanley, we had Mike Lange. Thanks, Mikey.

The free-agent market has been a wild ride since July 28. Which former Penguins have contracts, and who is still unemployed?

NHL News & National Hockey Now

The Pittsburgh Penguins rivals paid their goalies on Monday.

Philly: Carter Hart got a bridge deal–a healthy payday, but a bridge deal. Now the Flyers must hope he rebounds from a disastrous 2020-21.

Washington: The Washington Capitals let Ilya Samsonov Vitek Vanecek go via the expansion draft, then reacquired him. Now they’ve also given Ilya Samsonov a low-cost “show me” bridge deal to be their starting goalie. 

NY Post: The New York Rangers decided Igor Shesterkin is their goalie of now and the future, and they dished a big-time contract to Igor. 

No, walk THIS way…

Sportsnet: Based on reports from Frank Seravalli (Daily Faceoff) and Michael Russo (The Atheltic), the complicating factor in the Minnesota Wild’s attempt to sign Calder-Trophy-winning Kirill Kaprizov to a long term deal is the Moscow Dynamo and their offer of over $10 million to bring the Russian star home. 

There’s no word if Kaprizov rejects the Russian offer that a former coach with ties to a dictator will make unfounded and false allegations about his personal behavior.

ESPN: Jon Cooper will coach Team Canada in the coming 2022 Beijing Olympics. 

Vegas: Pete DeBoer was an assistant on the greatest World Juniors team ever known. Now he’s an assistant coach for Team Canada in the 2022 Olympics. 

Boston: The Bruins lured first-round pick Fabian Lysell out of Sweden for the smaller ice sheets of North America. Lysell inked his three-year ELC and will be in the Bruins system…or the NHL.

Keeping first-round picks when you’re a Cup contender. Is that allowed??

Florida: I don’t necessarily understand these new NIL deals. But the Florida Panthers signed the Miami Hurricanes QB to a NIL deal, and the kid is gonna make some bank. 

Detroit: The five BEST free agent signings in Detroit Red Wings history. Yeah, there have been a few–remember the Hall of Fame team? A few might hurt Penguins fans, but Bob Duff rattles off his top five. 

Vancouver: A for a real and honest look at the Seattle Kraken. Are they a true Canucks rival yet? Rob Simpson breaks down the roster like few have and gives a pretty good picture of what to expect from Seattle. 

San Jose: Despite high-priced, big-name talent, the fish have not been very good for a couple of years. However, they have now built a top-five prospect pool–those minnows may be Sharks soon.