Dan’s Daily: McDavid Gets Bounced (Again), Penguins Rumors Persist

It took Wayne Gretzky five years to lift his first Stanley Cup. Sidney Crosby needed just four, and Mario Lemieux needed seven seasons. The current world’s greatest player, Connor McDavid, is now eight years and counting as the Vegas Golden Knights humbled McDavid’s Oilers in Round Two. There are persistent Pittsburgh Penguins rumors regarding GM and coach. The future of Auston Matthews in Toronto is up for debate, though hold off on the NHL trade rumors.

Covering the Vegas Golden Knights for a few weeks, and apparently a few more weeks to come, I’m really getting an education. A team without a bonafide star, without a top-shelf goalie, and no consistent 30-goal scorers is a favorite to win the Western Conference, if not the Stanley Cup.

Seattle, Dallas, and Carolina poke holes in the team-building dogmas of star players and great goalies.

Also, Saturday, I finally went out for an evening in Las Vegas. I found a $19.99 prime rib, but my night was cut short by a heater at the blackjack table. After being close to busted, I hit a hot streak. When I got up by $40, I picked up my chips and ran like hell. My excursion lasted less than two hours before I came back to the hotel and back to work.

I’m getting a little too cozy here; yesterday, I left the room in my socks. Let’s get to the good stuff…

Pittsburgh Penguins / Steelers, Pirates:

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Team USA is doing well in at the World Championships. Nick Bonino and Drew O’Connor lead the way.

Oh, those persistent rumors. We keep calling them far-fetched, but they keep popping up. Kyle Dubas in. Mike Sullivan to the Rangers. The Penguins’ rumors aren’t going away.

For the record, Dubas and Sullivan could be a great team, and there’s no reason to remove Sullivan unless he wants an aged roster without speed and accountability (and we highly doubt that).

Steelers Now: 

Two Steelers stories. One important. One ridiculous but fascinating.

First, which players performed well in rookie camp — who should become Pittsburgh Steelers?

Two, Le’Veon Bell wants to box Vontez Burfict. For real. Bell thinks Burfict tried to injure him. Le’Veon Bell wants to throw down.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now:

Ben Cherrington gave updates on injured Vince Velasquez and Rob Zastryzny. Pirates injury news.

The Pirates won 4-0 over the Baltimore Orioles Sunday. With 13 Ks and no walks, Mitch Keller set a Pirates record.

I got to watch some of the game. Keller was throwing wiffle balls. I haven’t seen movement like that from a Pirates pitcher since … since…? Francisco Cordova?

NHL Trade Talk, Playoffs, National Hockey Now

Vegas Hockey Now: Viva Las Vegas. For the fourth time in six years, the Golden Knights are among the final four. For the third time, they are in the Western Conference Final. They did things no other team did all season against the Edmonton Oilers, and Jack Eichel doubled Connor McDavid’s 5v5 point total. The Game 6 win and Vegas Golden Knights recap.

The big-time Vegas Golden Knights analysis.

Sportsnet: Leon Draisaitl went cold as ice. He was willing to sacrifice but it was just another “wasted year.”

Toronto Sun: Cha-cha-changes. The Toronto Maple Leafs will turn and face the change. Auston Matthews should he stay or should he go?

Can I squeeze more ear worms into this? Just hang on, Sloopy.

PHN: Game 7 tonight. If you’re once bitten, twice shy with sports betting, DraftKings is giving a $150 bonus on either the Dallas Stars or Seattle Kraken. The DraftKings promo.

Patrick Division:

Washington Hockey Now: Dmitry Orlov and the Washington Capitals — Will they be reunited?

NYI Hockey Now: The New York Islanders had high hopes, but did Noah Dobson really meet them?

Adams Division:

Florida Hockey Now: We await the Eastern Conference Final. The Carolina Hurricanes and their former Southleast Division foes. It will be bad company, I can’t deny, for former Hurricanes coach now Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice.

Montreal Hockey Now: Follow me, and everything is alright. What can the playoff teams teach the Montreal Canadiens?

Boston Hockey Now: The hunt for scapegoats in Boston continues. Could highly successful goalie coach Bob Essensa be the guy? Something to talk about for the Boston Bruins.

Detroit Hockey Now: He was a Penguins’ killer. Dynamite with a laser beam. Should Dominik Kubalik stick with the Detroit Red Wings?

And this is the end. My only friend. The end.