Dan’s Daily: NHL Wants a World Cup in ’25; Touching Tribute to Jimmy Hayes

The World Cup of Hockey, the best-on-best of the NHL players and a few international stars could happen in 2025, but there is a fly in the ointment. Pittsburgh Hockey Now isn’t a political space, but the NHL is dealing with a political drama of what to do with Russia if it holds the World Cup. The coming Pittsburgh Penguins season has fewer division rivalry games than years past, and that’s just one of the three big problems with the NHL schedule that can be easily fixed. More Bruins chatter on the NHL trade market. Also, Kevin Hayes wrote a touching tribute to his brother Jimmy, a former NHL and WBS Penguins player who passed away two years ago.

And how about those Steelers?

Since I know many of you golf, I’ll ask. I’m considering getting back into the game. What courses around here are a good value? I’m not dropping a Benjamin to hate my life and drink beer … I can do both without a greens fee!

As a feral GenX’er, I started golfing when I was 12. I slung my yard-sale clubs over my shoulder and rode my bike a few miles to the long-gone Carradam golf course in North Huntingdon. It was essentially a cow pasture on the side of a hill, but I loved it anyway. My younger brother, friends, and I would stop at the spring for a drink from a rusty pipe sticking out of the hillside near a General Braddock encampment area, then spend $9 for nine holes and a pull cart. Sometimes, they would double back around No. 7 and play a few more holes on the back nine. I never felt good doing that, so I’d go to the clubhouse for the greatest concoction ever known: A lemon-blend and ice cream float. It was $2.50.

Ah, inflation. I can’t find a set of clubs for under $400. Good grief.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Philly Hockey Now: Former Philadelphia Flyers center Kevin Hayes wrote a touching tribute to his late brother Jimmy, a former NHL and minor-league player whose last stop was the WBS Penguins. Jimmy passed away two years ago at 31.

Fentanyl is, and has been, a real problem.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Significant problems with the NHL schedule suppress revenues. For the good of the game and the fans, here are the fixes for the NHL schedule.

Steelers Now:

The Steelers first-stringers obliterated the Falcons. The winners and losers from the final preseason Steelers game.

Video from Atlanta. Alan Saunders tackles the big question: Can the great Steelers preseason carry over? Steelers analysis.

SN+: Don’t let “Lightning” fool you; don’t put Jaylen Warren in a bottle.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now:

Yuck. Another game against the Cubs and another loss. This one went 10 innings. Get the quickie Pirates recap.

Nick Gonzalez walked it off in odd fashion. Check out the Pirates prospects report.

NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now:

Boston Hockey Now: Sources told Hockey Now the Bruins remain interested in Elias Lindholm, but what about Elias Pettersson? The Canucks star center is waiting out a new contract next summer, but Vancouver remains in rebuild/retool/mediocre limbo. Should the Boston Bruins make a play?

NHL.com: I thought the league site buried the lead. The league is working toward the World Cup of Hockey in 2025, but a holdup is the Russia question. But the good news is that the league is working toward a best-on-best World Cup.

Would Sidney Crosby captain Team Canada? That honor goes to McDavid now, right? Would Crosby even be the second-line center?

TSN: The Edmonton Oilers signed defenseman Evan Bouchard to a two-year bridge deal, and the consensus is they might get burned at the end.

Philly Hockey Now: The Flyers assistant GM hears the fans, and they’re not happy. (Are they ever?). He said at least they care about the Philadelphia Flyers.

Carolina Hockey Now: Best blue line in hockey? The depth of good defenders, including two in the top 20 rankings, makes the Carolina Hurricanes dangerous.

LA Hockey Now: Tyler Toffoli joined Spittin’ Chiclets, and the topic veered toward former Flames coach Darryl Sutter. Despite some of the players having issues, Toffoli was a big fan of the former Calgary Flames coach.