Dan’s Daily: Penguins Make (Surprising?) Cuts, Matt Murray Tunnel Vision Goggles

Before I scoot off to Detroit, the Dan’s Daily is a bit of an opinion, too. The Pittsburgh Penguins made most of their cuts on Sunday and got the camp roster down to 28, then 27 players. Dave Molinari confirmed with GM Ron Hextall that Radim Zohorna was also part of the cuts. Sidney Crosby would have been a firefighter if he was not the greatest hockey player of his generation. And the Toronto Maple Leafs goalie coach put tunnel vision glasses on Matt Murray.

Sam Poulin is with the Penguins in Detroit. He figures to go to the WBS Penguins this week. Hopefully, he plays tonight, and we get a good look at him against NHL players. The Penguins have a few more cuts to make before we see the opening night version of the 2022-23 Penguins.

Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers & Pirates

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Penguins cuts, including Drew O’Connor.

I’m not sure who else confirmed this with the organization, but Radim Zohorna was also part of the cuts, but he’s also on the roster for tonight.

As a rival GM, I’d surely take a good look at Zohorna, too. He made some good adjustments to his game and will only get better with more experience. But–he doesn’t kill penalties, so his “demotion” wasn’t unexpected (by me).

Count me as surprised that Drew O’Connor didn’t make it. I also thought Drake Caggiula had a great camp and a strong game in Buffalo and could kill penalties. O’Connor was as good, if not better, than anyone else on the PK on Saturday. Ryan Poehling had a strong game in Buffalo, too. Josh Archibald is the player from whom we’re waiting to see more. Perhaps it’s an assumption by the Penguins that Archibald will deliver, but if it were a pure camp competition, both O’Connor and Caggiula won.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Penguins didn’t make any cuts on the blue line yet. However, I’ve seen enough to form a strong opinion. P.O Joseph and Ty Smith aren’t ready. Both have more work to do, and Mark Friedman brings a physical element the Penguins don’t have. Friedman should win the sixth D spot with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Steelers Now

The Steelers lost 24-20 to the New York Jets. The defense allowed 14 fourth-quarter points, and the Steelers blew a 10-point lead.

• Mike Tomlin won’t commit to starting Kenny Pickett next Sunday?!
• You can tell he wasn’t happy — Here’s the locker room interview with Mitch Trubisky.
• SN+: The defense also missed Terrel Edmunds. They lost money downs, and it burned the Steelers.
• And just to kick ’em while they’re down — JuJu Smith-Schuster says he’s learned more with the Chiefs than in five years with the Steelers.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: The Arizona Fall League begins today for the Pirates prospects.

NHL News & National Hockey Now:

TSN: Toronto goalie coach Curtis Sanford has a unique training idea — he put Matt Murray in tunnel vision glasses.

NHL.com: What would Sidney Crosby and a dozen other NHL’ers do if they weren’t hockey players? Crosby would be a firefighter!

Montreal: Uh oh, even the GM admitted the first-overall pick, Juraj Slafkovsky, has struggled in camp for the Montreal Canadiens.

Boston: Injuries are biting the Bruins, too. Taylor Hall is out “week to week,” which means both top-six Boston Bruins LWs are out.

Vegas: They have eight players headed towards free agency. Lots of money and lots of decisions await the Vegas Golden Knights.

Metro Division:

Philly: Impressions and analysis from another Flyers preseason loss, but Carter Hart may get a little push, too. Young Swede Sam Ersson has been solid for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Washington: The cuts also came down in Washington. A closer look at who is left and who is under pressure for the Washington Capitals.

NYI: Oliver Wahlstrom and Kieffer Bellows have been on the outside looking in for a couple of seasons. It’s their time, but they are battling each other, too. Camp battles for the New York Islanders.