Dan’s Daily: Hextall Dishes on Penguins Plans, What Went Wrong with Matt Murray?

How will the Pittsburgh Penguins get under the salary cap? GM Ron Hextall opened the door for the best players to make the NHL roster and admitted very tough decisions lie ahead. Tristan Jarry admitted how badly he was injured and how difficult it was to play in Game 7. Sportsnet assembled goalie coaches to look at the deterioration of Matt Murray’s game and figure out what has gone wrong. It’s a worthwhile piece that Penguins fans may enjoy. Patrick Kane was dismissive of the NHL trade rumors, and the Montreal Canadiens will be the darlings of those rumors this season, especially after GM Jeff Gorton said the team would get creative.

Kane dismissing trade rumors is a little bit tough since his camp was the one that created them by questioning his future in Chicago, eh?

More coverage later this morning from Penguins training camp — All three of us will be there! There’s one player I have circled as the early breakout, but I want to talk with him before I write the story. I must confess, I didn’t see it coming. While Mike Sullivan asked to reserve judgment on several new faces, he openly praised one newbie when I asked.

I hope that creates a little suspense.

Pittsburgh Penguins / Sports Now Group PGH

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Tristan Jarry was still injured when he played in Game 7. We all knew that, but the extent to which he was injured was publicly unknown until now. He was not supposed to play for another few weeks or a month. We have the full video of the chat, too. Guts from Tristan Jarry.

PHN+: Important question: What happens if Brian Dumoulin doesn’t “bounce back?” Also, updates on Joel Blomqvist and Brian Boyle. What will the Pittsburgh Penguins do?

And Ron Hextall spoke. He has informally chatted with Jarry’s camp about a contract but shrugged off any formality or progress. I didn’t think it was big news. They should be chatting and setting up formal talks. If they didn’t, THAT would be news. Dave Molinari has the real news from the Penguins GM, including the Penguins’ salary cap plans.

Steelers Now:

• Are you going to argue? O.J. Simpson says, “Start Kenny Pickett!”
• The Steelers hosted three inside linebackers for tryouts. The Steelers run D stinks.
• Grades and snap counts from the loss to the Browns. Steelers analysis.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now

• The dude just keeps hitting. And hitting. At this point in the season, Endy Rodrigues has become THE hottest watch of the Pirates prospects.
• (+) From John Perrotto: One good storyline from this disastrous season is the significant improvement of Mitch Keller.

Two very good paywall stories this AM. We value your support and rely on it. Join the subscriber family and get all three sites. Click here.

NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now:

Vegas Hockey Now: In 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman says teams wonder if the Golden Knights are up to something.

San Jose Hockey Now: The NHL is going to Czechia, but there’s a catch. Czechia is firmly behind Ukraine and against Russia and may not let the Russian players participate. The Sharks players are banding together to go as a team. San Jose Sharks news.

Vancouver: If Bo Horvat isn’t signed, one NHL insider says Bo Horvat will be dealt by the NHL trade deadline.

Chicago Sun-Times: Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews say they’re committed to Chicago despite the NHL trade rumors. Why am I a bit unmoved?

Montreal Hockey Now: There’s a roster logjam in Montreal. GM Jeff Gorton says the Montreal Canadiens will be creative.

Sportsnet: Here’s the headline story today. Goalie coaches and insiders really put Matt Murray under the microscope. What has gone wrong since he stormed the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins and won two Stanley Cups as a rookie? Here’s the full-length story.

Metro Division:

NYI: Ilya Sorokin responded perfectly to our Stefen Rosner when the goalie was asked what he worked on this summer, “Stop puck.” There ya go–more from New York Islanders camp.

Philly: I know Penguins fans will seize on this story to poke at Mike Sullivan. Wade Allison is excited that John Tortorella has pledged to “play the kids” with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Washington Hockey Now: Dylan Strome has a beef with the Chicago Blackhawks. He wants to make them pay for letting him walk. Washington Capitals camp.

We would have Rangers coverage, too, but we’re not owned by a Billion dollar corporation, nor do we put out a fishwrap for newsstands.

More National Hockey Now

Detroit: Hello, new coach — Play fast and compete. Does that sound familiar? The players are loving the simplicity of Derek Lalonde’s system for the Detroit Red Wings.