Dan’s Daily: Big Retirements, MacKinnon Payday, & Penguins Prospects Improve

Three big-name defensemen called it a career on Tuesday, including a somewhat surprising announcement from P.K. Subban. Sidney Crosby’s buddy Nathan MacKinnon is now the highest-paid player in the NHL, but he may have left a little something on the table for the Avalanche to spend. The New York Rangers traded Nils Lundkvist to Dallas for a first-rounder, and that could be the start of the NHL trade rumors, not the end. Ahem, Patrick Kane. Which Pittsburgh Penguins prospects upped their stock, and who slipped after prospects camp?

And the full Penguins training camp schedule. It begins tomorrow.

I hesitate to say we’ve got a new Hockey Now franchise coming today, if not today, in the next couple of days. We’ve wanted this market for quite a while. The website is 98% complete, but we’ll see if tech can finish it this AM and we launch. Another west coaster is coming, too… Oh, and podcasts. Oh, and video…

Pittsburgh Penguins / Sports Now Group PGH

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Penguins training camp schedule.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Josh Maniscalco didn’t have such a hot start to his pro career. He wound up in Wheeling for much of the year. Dave Molinari chatted with the young man, and it may be too soon to write off Josh Maniscalco.

PHN+: Prospects camp wrapped. They finished up with a good bit of 5v5 action, though not an official scrimmage. After a week and spirited game against the Boston Bruins prospects, whose stock is up? And whose is down? The analysis of the Penguins’ prospects.

Steelers Now: James Harrison — he of the 99-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Super Bowl and the fearsome pass rush — is nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is one of six Steelers.

Want to bet on which QB is the first to be benched this season? Odds makers are so sure they know that they’ve taken Mitch Trubisky off the board.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Endy Rodrigues has torn the cover off the baseball on his ascent through the Pirates farm system this year. He was promoted to Triple-A this week. And…raked again. Get the full Pirates prospects report.

Oh, by the way, Aaron Judge hit homerun No. 60, and the Yankees rallied to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates.

NHL Trade, News & National Hockey Now

Colorado Hockey Now: SHOW ME THE MONEY! The Colorado Avalanche PAID Nathan MacKinnon.

NY Post: NHL trade rumors ahead — The Rangers traded Lundkvist and now have two first-round picks (Probably. The pick has conditions). With two first-rounders, Larry Brooks opines that opens the door for the Rangers to go after Patrick Kane. 

Montreal Hockey Now: One of three big-name retirements on Tuesday, P.K. Subban had interest from clubs but nothing lucrative and perhaps nothing beyond a PTO. The gregarious defenseman who sometimes overshadowed his team but is a brilliant ambassador for the game hung ’em up. Our boys in Montreal honored Subban with his best moments with the Montreal Canadiens.

Penguins fans may remember a different moment with Subban, pictured above. But he really was a treat to deal with.

Boston Hockey Now: Zdeno Chara called it quits at 45 years old. I feel ya, brother. The d-man leaves a long legacy and signed a one-day deal to say goodbye with the Boston Bruins.

Even though he wasn’t 100% sure, Chara went out in style last season with the New York Islanders.

Florida Hockey Now: His ironman streak ended late last season — and former Florida Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle also retired.

When I started this career, the guys were older than me. Then, when I returned to Pittsburgh media, they were younger than me. Now, they’re my son’s age. Time keeps marching, though if it stopped to catch its breath, I wouldn’t mind.

Back to the future…

Philly Hockey Now: It’s going to be a tough slog. Without Sean Couturier, what will the Philly Flyers lineup look like?

Washington Hockey Now: Could he be the next great center in the Pittsburgh Penguins – Capitals rivalry? Top prospect Hendrix Lapierre has slick hands, and the door is open because of Nick Backstrom’s injury. In the offseason, he gained 10 pounds (of muscle), hoping to stick with the Washington Capitals.

I gained 10 pounds, too. Just not muscle…

Detroit: The vax requirements could loosen up for the few NHL players who didn’t get the poke and allow them to travel to Canada, including Tyler Bertuzzi of the Detroit Red Wings.

Another would be Penguins winger Josh Archibald.