Dan’s Daily: Latest on Top RFAs, Sharks Fans Upset by Penguins Trade Talk

The San Jose Sharks fans let us know they were not happy with the continued characterizations of their team as we dissect and analyze the Pittsburgh Penguins’ trade efforts to land defenseman Erik Karlsson. The comments themselves were an interesting read, even if you disagreed with the analysis. Sportsnet dished the latest on the top 12 restricted free agents across the NHL, the Vegas Golden Knights Boston connections keep twisting the knife into the Boston faithful, Montreal Canadiens fans are itching for trades, and Ryan O’Reilly threw a Nashville Predators rebuild under the bus.

My streak was broken. I have published something on this website and others every day since Easter Sunday, 2019. Even on travel days and after west coast games, through the pandemic and beyond, I felt it necessary to deliver something for you.

Sunday … I didn’t. I went to Rolands in the strip for lunch, hung out at my little watering hole, went home, and went to bed. And PHN had a great traffic day as hockey fans across the league, but especially in San Jose, chewed on my analysis of the Sharks’ predicament and why they will be the ones to blink in the Karlsson trade.

After a good ride home from Wellsboro and some Little Caesar’s crazy bread in Franklin Saturday, I feel pretty good today. Time to get to work…

For newbies to Dan’s Daily, it’s the quick catch-up to the latest hockey headlines, but we don’t aggregate good journalists’ work. Instead, we link you directly to the real stories so those journalists get the full credit.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: If you missed anything last week, every Sunday morning Dave Molinari does the Penguins wrap.

And here is the much-discussed, debated, and still-going viral story. I stand behind it. The comments number a few dozen now, even as I had to delete a good number for violating our good taste standards. You can disagree, even attack me, but some people lose their marbles. We delete those comments because we learned from the past — a few of those beget more. And more. And quickly, the comments section becomes a hatefest that is pretty miserable to read, chasing away good people and a lot of genuine hockey talk.

And here’s why the San Jose Sharks will/should buckle in the Erik Karlsson trade talks.

You can return to the story for the comments battles, too. A few people wrote op-eds.

Steelers Now:

Who was rated as the most open WR in 2022? The Steelers’ Diontae Johnson.

And here’s a story you didn’t think you’d see — Le’Veon Bell said he never should have left and apologized to Steelers fans.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now:

The Pirates blew it again. Does the score even matter anymore? As John Perrotto writes, after another sour loss, nothing ever changes with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Good news — Sources tell PBN that the Pirates have recalled Liover Peguera and Endy Rodriguez.

NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now:

Sportsnet: The top 12 RFAs on the market and the latest news on new contracts.

Montreal Hockey Now: The NHL trade rumors missed this one. Marc Dumont reports in his mailbag that the Canadiens turned down a hefty offer from the Nashville Predators for the fifth overall pick at last month’s NHL Draft. But fans are itching for a few more Canadiens trades.

Boston Hockey Now: Keep twisting the knife… Boston native Jack Eichel says the reason the Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup is former Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. And Eichel said it while celebrating with Lord Stanley in the Boston area. Ouch. More pain and more torture for the Boston Bruins.

Philly Hockey Now: After buying out Tony DeAngelo, it’s yet another messy divorce for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Stick tap to our Flyers colleague Chuck Bausman for cranking out some interesting content deep into July. There’s some development camp analysis at Philly Hockey Now, and more one player I think will become a stud: small defenseman Emil Andrae.

Nashville Hockey Now: Ryan O’Reilly put down any Predators rebuild, “Why can’t we contend?” The Nashville Predators do have some pieces in place.

Calgary Hockey Now: With Daryl Sutter fired, the players seem more optimistic and eager to get back to work for the Calgary Flames.

And we are set to launch our latest hockey now chapter this week. A Metro Division team… It’s signed, sealed, and built. Our new beat writer is coming to us with a newspaper background and a wealth of (team redacted) experience. Perhaps we’ll launch Wednesday or Thursday after a couple of training days.