Dan’s Daily: Big-Name PTOs; Penguins Path Ahead

The Pittsburgh Penguins won’t have much training camp roster space for big names looking to jump-start their NHL careers, but a couple of big-name PTOs inked up for their training camp tryouts, including one with the Washington Capitals. New Penguins forward Cody Glass clapped back at a critical Instagram post, and we laid out the tumultuous paths ahead for the Penguins. Elsewhere, the Edmonton Oilers are still working through the RFA offer sheets but could have a chance for revenge. Matt Rempe is feeling the attention, while Milan Lucic is trying to get back into the NHL.

Vacation? What vacation?

It was a whirlwind week for the Penguins, and it certainly gave us a few things to talk about. The breaking news abbreviated my little tour of Northern PA. To any aspiring sociologist, there is a fertile field of study why a few small towns continue to thrive. In contrast, others with the same resources continually struggle or fall off the map.

If you take a last-second trip before school or go north for the foliage next month, I had an amazing Beef on Weck at a little cafe in Mt. Jewett. The little place is Kaffe Sol. Mt. Jewett is just one street on Rt. 6, so you can’t miss it, and it’s only a few miles from the Kinzua Bridge. BEST Beef on Weck I’ve had. They nailed the salted bun.

Also, many of you probably don’t know–the St. Louis Arch was made in Warren, PA (and now the trip counts as a business trip!)

I think we need to do a Penguins video chat soon, eh?

Pittsburgh Penguins

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PHN+:  OK, let’s get to the real stuff. It’s been a summer of stockpiling picks but also the struggling, well-paid players who came with those picks. There will be no mushy middle for the Penguins this season, nope. Here’s what comes next for the Penguins.

UPDATE: Sorry, forgot to include the Cody Glass screenshot on the first go-round:

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: The minor league report has some good news. Nick Yorke is still mashing the cover off the ball and did so AGAIN. Here’s the latest on the Pirates prospects.

The big “bat” the Pirates acquired at the MLB trade deadline is not doing so hot. Actually, if he were a continent, he’d be Antarctica. John Perrotta has the latest on Bryan De La Cruz.

Steelers Now: Andy Weidl has been a godsend and a big reason for the Steelers’ recent draft day successes. He laid it out yesterday, and here is what to expect in future Steelers drafts.

The joint practice was uneventful, but there’s one thing you can keep an eye on–watch out for that Steelers running game.

NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now

Sportsnet: A Patrik Laine trade? Not so fast. The Columbus Blue Jackets are drawing a line in the sand and aren’t just going to give him up to the highest bidder if the bids stink. Columbus wants some value in return.

Bleacher Report podcast: Tony DeAngelo copped to being at fault for that infamous fight with Rangers goalie Aleksander Georgiev that earned DeAngelo a bad reputation and a one-way ticket out of New York. He didn’t spare the details or hide from it.

Washington Hockey Now: The PTO signing of the summer. Home run here. Jakub Vrana is going to roll the dice and take a tryout shot with the Washington Capitals again.

I pretty much love everything Washington has done this summer, except for PLD, but even that move has a real chance to be successful.

TSN: Former first-round pick Logan Brown is trying to re-ignite his NHL career and took a PTO with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Brown is recovering from hip surgery, so this could be a steal, too.

Boston Hockey Now: Milan Lucic was sent away after an ugly domestic violence charge. That has been resolved, and Lucic has been skating in New Jersey in hopes of a return. What comes next for Milan Lucic?

NHL.com: This isn’t good news for the Metro Division. Reading between the lines, Matt Rempe is feeling the glare of attention and is feeling the need to earn it.