Dan’s Daily: Latest Rumors, Denials, & Evgeni Malkin Barbie Doll?

The Boston Bruins are losing their top two centers, so the NHL trade rumors are picking up. The cost won’t be cheap. The Pittsburgh Penguins’ opportunities to reshape the core of their team are shrinking as more names become unavailable. The Sportsnet 2022-23 all-bargain team was interesting, if only because of the number of players who had to scrape for new contracts. And Tony DeAngelo denied any major locker room confrontations with Philadelphia coach John Tortorella.

And Evgeni Malkin is a Ken doll?

I was surprised at the reaction to my finding Suits on Netflix. It sounds like many other people have, and Shelly Anderson told me it was a guilty pleasure inside the Penguins’ locker room when it first appeared, too.

The other show I binged last week was Heels on Amazon, about a small-town pro wrestling operation. Season 2 began this week. Former Steelers linebacker James Harrison was a star in Season 1?! Harrison was shockingly pretty good as a quiet but stabilizing character. Mike O’Malley is the showrunner, and he shows a lot of respect for wrestling while going behind the Kayfabe. Highly recommended.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Vladimir Tarasenko signed with Ottawa, though the Penguins reportedly had some interest. The Penguins are improved, but the opportunities to reshape the top of the Penguins’ lineup are dwindling.

Evgeni Malkin posted pictures of his Barbie Doll on Instagram but no comments or descriptions. Here ya go:

They really got the eyes right.

SteelersNow.com

Day 2 of training camp. Who dominated, and who stepped up? Steelers takeaways.

Joey Porter Jr. is impressing folks already.

Podcast: Steelers Afternoon Drive. Is the explosive offense finally here?

Pittsburgh Baseball Now:

Quickie recap — Mitch Keller was very good, but the Pirates lost.

Prospect Jared Jones shined in Indy. He hit triple digits on the radar gun this week. Get the latest on the Pirates’ prospects.

The Buccos are confident that Oneil Cruz will play again this season.

And just for fun, there’s a new king of the Pierogi Race at PNC. His name … Saurkraut Saul.

You have to find some fun at the Pirates games, don’t you?

NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now:

Philly Hockey Now: Rumors debunked? Tony DeAngelo says he had no major locker room confrontations with coach John Tortorella.

San Jose Hockey Now: The Sharks offered Tarasenko $1 million more, but he rebuffed them? San Jose Sharks spurned.

Boston Hockey Now: Elias Lindholm is the name du jour in the NHL trade chatter. The Bruins need a top center, and he’s the target, but sources say it would cost the Bruins Jake DeBrusk. The latest Bruins trade talk.

Boston Hockey Now: Arbitration is fast approaching for goalie Jeremy Swayman and the two sides are millions apart. Here’s the scoop on the Swayman arbitration hearing.

It may not meet the full definition of collusion, but Swayman not getting an offer sheet proves the system is broken, and teams are afraid to submit offer sheets. So many teams need a top goalie, and the Bruins can’t afford Swayman. Yet no one offered him $4 million, which would cost them only a second-round pick as compensation.

I guess Ottawa would rather pay Joonas Korpisalo that same $4 million.

Sportsnet: The all-bargain team. Tage Thompson was the runaway winner, but No. 2 was Daniel Sprong. The list is pretty interesting.

Montreal Hockey Now: Marc Dumont is coming up with some creative stories this summer. The 10 Canadiens who just didn’t look right in other uniforms. The Montreal Canadiens story.