Dan’s Daily Links: Penguins Prospects, Jets Move on From Laine?

When Simon and Garfunkel penned The Sounds of Silence the weren’t referring to NHL restricted free agency but it seems appropriate nonetheless. We’re into September and still no RFAs are homeward bound. As the remnants of the summer are slip-sliding away, the NHL and NHLPA may be building a bridge over troubled water. The NHL declined to reopen the CBA, now the players are deciding. And the Pittsburgh Penguins prospects will hit the ice today in their only practice before the Prospects Challenge which for a few will be their first games in America.

Four references. What can I say, I am a rock.

The Penguins Prospect Challenge team will practice today at 10:30 a.m. Pittsburgh Hockey Now will have full coverage. Hopefully, we’ll get the lines and get a better feel for the team. Not many Penguins fans are paying attention to the tournament. It’s not ever been a big deal here but that should change. It’s not like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin or Kris Letang have discovered time machines. The Penguins must begin to build a better prospects team–or Generation Next will be repeated.

For more analysis of the prospects and who could be on their way to the NHL, read on (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Could the Winnipeg Jets move on from Patrick Laine? David Amber made a strong case for it on Sportsnet 590 (Sportsnet)

The Phoenix Coyotes just paid Clayton Keller. 8 years. (Arizona Sports)

NBC removed Pierre McGuire from their top broadcasting unit. Fans lined up on the social media dunking booth. (Awful Announcing)

Seriously, Pierre is a nice guy. He drops in more player knowledge than any human ever has. I think some of the social media cheap shots are a bit of jealousy. You are free to like or not like any announcer. I certainly have those whom I enjoy and those who I wonder if their hiring boss did so after Happy Hour. I’m not sure many fans know that Stanley Cup ring Pierre wears was earned with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The players union and the NHL are talking. The NHL is OK with the current CBA and chose not to reopen it. Now the players are having their say. Talks have been “cordial” (TSN)

The NHL is reaching into Russia with a new streaming deal. (AP)

A Mitch Marner update (Leafs Hot Stove)

See you at practice.