Dan’s Daily: Laine Trade Update; Where’s Penguins Speed?

The radar gun shows that the Pittsburgh Penguins have some players with good speed, but they do not have any players with above-average top speeds. We listed all of the Penguins’ skating speeds, their bursts, and the resulting revelations. The NHL trade market for sniper Patrik Laine is not what the Columbus Blue Jackets hoped, and it sounds downright frosty. Elsewhere in the Daily, the Edmonton Oilers locker room video from the moments following their Game 7 loss was released, and Zach Hyman gave a heartfelt speech. Our Sam Carchidi is pushing the move to honor former Flyers owner Ed Snider, who passed away in 2016, and the ranking the Capitals busy few years on the trade market.

I think I’m about out of Penguins columns for a moment. I racked my brain to come up with the speed charts, though I found them insightful on a large scale. I’ll be doing some fluffy stuff (don’t hate, we go 365), but I’m also opening the door for requests. What do you want to talk about?

Also, for the first time in a few years, I’m taking a short vacation. I’m not going far. I’m spending a couple of days at my favorite little hotel where Groucho Marx stayed, getting meatloaf at an old railroad car diner, afternoons watching movies in a 120-year-old theater, and maybe a good dinner.

But there will be Penguins content. Probably.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The weekly wrap includes the Sidney Crosby situation, loose ends, and the best players born in the Pittsburgh area. It’s all things in the Penguins wrap.

So, who is the fastest Penguins skater? The slowest? I thought a few of the speed stats were more than a little surprising, including Kris Letang’s. Check it out–with stats from NHL Edge, the Penguins speed.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: It was the first rough outing for Paul Skenes, and it wasn’t that rough. He still registered eight strikeouts, but the team freefall continued, and the LA Dodgers got the best of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Steelers Now (+): Dudes and duds. The up-and-down rookies and the problems under center. Derrick Bell puts the Steelers under the heat lamps after the bulk of training camp is complete. PHN+ subscribers can log in to Steelers Now and read the article–here’s what to like and NOT like about the Pittsburgh Steelers so far.

NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now

Aaron Portzline gets us started. The price for Laine should be falling.

Can obviously change with one phone call, but sense is #CBJ aren’t getting much traction on trade talks involving Patrik Laine.
It is a quiet time across the NHL, of course.

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) August 9, 2024

TSN Video: The most crushing moment in sports must be the hours following defeat in a championship game. I cannot imagine the weight of a Game 7 loss, but the Edmonton Oilers now know it. Here’s the locker room video in the minutes following Edmonton’s loss to the Florida Panthers. Zach Hyman gave the boys a speech.

Vancouver Province: Sidney Crosby and Leon Draisaitl are technically the top pending free agents, though no one really expects either to hit the UFA market. So, what will Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin do–One player who is upping his value and might price himself out of the Vancouver Canucks.

NHL.com: E-Rod’s day with the Stanley Cup. He took it back to Boston University and his journey from undrafted castoff to journeyman and now an integral part of a Stanley Cup champion. Here’s Evan Rodrigues’s celebration.

Philly Hockey Now: Hate them as you will, Ed Snider was one of the most influential and beloved owners in the league. The Flyers owner passed away in 2016, but as the organization works to rename their arena, Sam Carchidi started the chatter that is growing–include Mr. Snider’s name on the Philadelpha Flyers’ arena.

Washington Hockey Now: Brian MacLellan had one wild ride as the GM of the Washington Capitals. He quickly remade them in the last couple of years, but he also had the benefit of his aging star players stepping away or being placed on LTIR. Nathan Moser looks at the five best MacLellan Capitals trades.