Dan’s Daily: No Announcement for Ian Cole, Penguins New Drills

The Pittsburgh Penguins began to take shape for Game 1 tonight, and it appears there will be two new players making their first opening-night start. PHN tackled why some Penguins trade chatter is not a good idea. Ian Cole spoke with the NHL investigators on Wednesday, but neither side had an announcement. Montreal gave Carey Price a thunderous ovation, a grateful rookie helped the Bruins beat the Capitals, and Edmonton paid tribute to Bet Stetler.

Game day. Finally. The long journey begins. I am very curious if the Penguins will return to sellouts this season. When a team is a fresh Stanley Cup contender, it becomes a hot ticket. When a team is no longer a top-tier, exciting new thing, I hear a multitude of reasons why people don’t buy tickets. I’m anxious to see where this year’s Penguins fit on the spectrum.

I included the word “fresh” because, after 17 years, the Penguins are very good, but “new” or fresh won’t be words used to describe them.

Pittsburgh Penguins / Steelers, Pirates

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Speed. Greasy fast speed is what we need (Rocky quote). The Penguins are built on the same chassis. Dave Molinari has the practice notebook, including an update on Teddy Blueger and a new penalty-killing drill for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Who will be the surprise players to watch for the Penguins? And why did we downplay a summer of putting Jason Zucker and Marcus Petterson on the NHL trade block?

Steelers Now:

• “It’s my job…” Kenny Pickett embraced his leadership role in the sputtering Steelers offense.
• Seven starters were out on Wednesday. The full Steelers injury report.
• Kevin Dotson helped Alan Saunders explain — the many little things wrong with the Steelers’ run game.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Arizona Fall League update on the Pirates prospects.

Wouldn’t it be nice for an October story on major league baseball? Now and then, if I think about it, I can get worked up about the Pirates owner wasting city resources and twisting MLB rules to enrich himself. S.O.S. MLB, S.O.S…

NHL News & National Hockey Now

Sportnet has the exclusive — Edmonton paid tribute to little Ben Stetler. Connor McDavid scored a hat trick and dedicated the Oilers’ win to the little guy with a big personality. Here is the pregame tribute video — Play La Bamba, Baby!

Elliotte Friedman had a small story with significant implications. NHL investigators interviewed Ian Cole on Wednesday. The interview concluded without an announcement by the NHL.

We all have to be very cautious — it’s a serious accusation, but it was made anonymously on social media. There are serious and slippery slopes in all directions.

To hockey…

Philly Hockey Now: Ouch — Sam Carchidi writes while the other Philly sports teams are thriving, the goal is merely respectability for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Washington: The Capitals lost. I know you’re upset. Sammi Silber has the takeaways from the opening folly by the Washington Capitals.

Boston: The Bruins beat the Capitals, and Jakub Lauko made his NHL debut. He had stars in his eyes because last year in the AHL was his “rock bottom.” More from Joe Haggerty, who is on the road covering the Boston Bruins.

Montreal: Watch — the Bell Centre went BONKERS for Carey Price.

NYI: Is this really the “prove it” season for the New York Islanders?