Dan’s Daily: Kuznetsov Bails; Penguins Competition; 2 Prospects Snubbed

Pittsburgh Penguins management pays special attention to how the Penguins stack against the division and so PHN is beginning to stack the new Penguins roster against the Metro Division rivals. Penguins prospect Tristan Broz showed some silky mitts last night in the Da Beauty League, and fellow prospect Tanner Howe will compete alongside Brayden Yager in the Team Canada summer showcase. Elsewhere in the Daily, the Columbus Blue Jackets are down to a couple of finalists for their head coaching position, one day after squashing rumors Evgeny Kuznetsov indeed bolted for Russia, Sportsnet has the latest on the top 12 restricted free agents, and Calgary finally broke ground on a new arena.

There’s a bit of non-news, too. Emil Pieniniemi and Kalle Kangas, both of the Penguins’ prospect defensemen from Finland, were not invited to participate with Team Finland in the coming summer showcase in Plymouth. Both were part of the 2024 World Juniors team. That’s especially disappointing regarding Pieniniemi, who was a third-round pick in 2024.

However, he was a polarizing pick. We’ve been given very diametrically opposed scouting reports—he’s good offensively, or he’s good defensively—but I cannot say he grabbed my attention in the recent development camp. I initially wrote that the pick could be a steal, but prospects are supposed to improve, not regress, at 19, so that’s a little warning sign.

Lastly, I’ll give a little love to Spirit Airlines. Yes, the airline has plenty of issues but when they finally got me home, the flight was excellent. The airline upgraded me for the one-day delay and the pilot nicely avoided the afternoon storms around Pittsburgh (I thought for sure my Wednesday flight would be canceled, too) for a soft landing.

Of course, parking at the airport is like finding a space at the mall on Black Friday.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Oh watch this. Tristan Broz is showing more and more. He scored a jaw-dropper in Da Beauty League last night. Here’s the Penguins prospect going between the legs.

I think you’ll see Broz this season. He might have more offense than I thought, too.

It’s part of president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas’s strategy to build the team in competition with the division. So, we’re beginning to look at how that’s faring, including starting with comparing the Penguins to the Washington Capitals rebuild.

Another blossoming Penguins prospect was also invited to participate in Team Canada’s summer showcase. Brayden Yager, and hello, Tanner Howe.

Howe was the right pick at 46. I think a few of us got starry eyes over the more offensively talented prospects like John Mustard, but the more I see and hear of Howe, it was a great pick.

NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now

Montreal Hockey Now: False trade rumors? In Montreal? Nooo! However, in this case, a Slovak outlet went too far and absolutely trashed Montreal Canadiens prospect Filip Mesar.

Sportsnet: So, his agent squashed the rumors, and then a day later, they are true. The Carolina Hurricanes placed Evgeny Kuznetsov on waivers for the purpose of contract termination so he can, inexplicably, go back to the KHL.

That’s a loss for Carolina. He was pretty good for them after the trade. It’s been a brutal offseason for them, but they also have about $15 million in salary cap space now. Surely there is an expensive player or three that teams want to move on the NHL trade market?

San Jose Hockey Now: It’s official. Little Joe has retired. However, it wasn’t without one last attempt at a new contract by the San Jose Sharks.

SJHN+: The Sharks have prospects and needs. Nashville Predators’ top goalie prospect Yaroslav Askarov is the new belle of the ball on the trade market, so what would a Sharks trade offer look like?

Yep, PHN+ subscribers can read that article. You’ll have to log in on San Jose Hockey Now to read it, but you have access!

Florida Hockey Now: After the Cup celebration, there were big changes and forced changes via free agency for the Florida Panthers.

The Athletic ($): Still no head coach, but a pair of candidates are in Columbus this week to interview for the job with new GM Don Wadell. Here’s the latest.

Sportsnet: The latest on the top 12 RFAs as we creep closer and closer to the coming arbitration hearings. If you think an 82-game schedule is brutal, an afternoon of hearing your team verbally knock you down is probably worse.

Detroit Hockey Now: A state of the Red Wings, in a few pieces. It’s not a heavyweight battle, but it’s a good old-fashioned goalie competition for the Detroit Red Wings.