PHN Daily: Sullivan’s Getting His Say; Strip Show in Vegas

Kyle Dubas will be the Pittsburgh Penguins’ decision-maker when they make personnel moves this summer, but he’ll probably be acting on the advice of coach Mike Sullivan. The Vegas Golden Knights cap their Stanley Cup championship with a mile-long parade down The Strip. Boston’s coach offers an explanation for why his team that ran away with the league’s regular-season title blew a 3-1 lead to a No. 8 seed in Round 1 of the playoffs and a former Washington center is a candidate to return there this summer.

Reports out of Las Vegas say police there estimated the crowd size at the Golden Knights’ parade at around 100,000, which seems surprisingly small. Especially in a city often defined by hedonism, where sunrise can be reason enough to start a self-indulgent celebration.

It’s Father’s Day, so all of you dads should get out there and do dad things. Like, you know, incinerating innocent chunks of protein on the grill or wrenching your back trying to recreate those magnificent athletic feats you didn’t actually pull off when you were a younger man.

Or you could just read the Daily and the other offerings coming today on Pittsburgh Hockey Now, then sit around and watch the grass grow. Because this is the one day all summer when you can probably get away with not mowing it.

Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers, Pirates

Pittsburgh Hockey Now:

Mike Sullivan figures to have a significant say in the personnel decisions president of hockey operations and interim GM Kyle Dubas will make for the Pittsburgh Penguins this summer.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now:

The Pirates absorbed their fifth consecutive defeat, 5-0, in Milwaukee.

Prospect Shalin Polanco is having a big month with Bradenton.

Wondering why Austin Hedges still is the Pirates’ No. 1 catcher? Here’s an explanation. (+)

Steelers Now:

Here’s a rundown of the Steelers’ biggest needs before the start of training camp.

National Hockey Now Network

Vegas Hockey Now: The parade with our Dan Kingerski in the middle. William Karlsson may have had a few drinks. Vegas Golden Knights parade.

Boston Hockey Now: Bruins coach Jim Montgomery admits he made a major mistake during Boston’s first-round upset loss to Florida.

Chicago Hockey Now: Goalie Arvid Soderblom looks like he might be ready for full-time work in the NHL.

Colorado Hockey Now: The Avalanche have a history of trading for players like New Jersey winger Yegor Sharangovich, who reportedly has been put on the market.

Detroit Hockey Now: It looks as if the Red Wings won’t be re-signing any of their pending unrestricted free agents.

Florida Hockey Now: It looks as if the Panthers will enter the 2023-24 season without defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who went through the playoffs with a dislocated shoulder and a torn oblique.

Montreal Hockey Now: The Canadiens not only will have the fifth overall choice in the upcoming NHL draft, but will hold the same slot on waiver claims until Nov. 1.

New Jersey Hockey Now: Working out a long-term contract with Dawson Mercer will be one of many challenges facing Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald this summer.

Philly Hockey Now: U.S. National Development Team center Oliver Moore could be available when the Flyers make the seventh pick in the draft, and would give them a badly needed infusion of speed.

Vegas Hockey Now: This quality helped to make the Golden Knights so successful. And special.

Can Vegas repeat as the Stanley Cup champion? Definitely, even though oddsmakers don’t seem to like the chances much.

Washington Hockey Now: Capitals alum Lars Eller is one of four free-agent centers Washington could target this summer.