Dan’s Daily: NHL Trade Talk; Jagr Scores; Inside Penguins Coverage

How would you feel if Sidney Crosby played for another 10 or 12 years? Pittsburgh Penguins teammate Kris Letang thinks it is entirely possible. Crosby also bounced Evgeni Malkin in the training camp scrimmage. We’ve got all of the fun stories from Penguins training camp Day 1. Elsewhere in the Daily, things are getting tense in Boston as the Bruins are at a stubborn contract impasse with goalie Jeremy Swayman as training camp began. Rogers stepped up with more than $4 billion to buy out the other half of the owners in the Toronto Maple Leafs. Mitch Marner and the team are blocking all questions about his expiring contract. T.J. Oshie will begin the season on LTIR, and Jaromir Jagr registered a point in the first game of his 37th season.

It is rare that I intentionally pass up a story. However, I did just that Wednesday when a couple of us were chatting with Kevin Hayes. I knew I could ask about Johnny Gaudreau and his relationship with him, but I wasn’t going to. Still, a question about the tragedy was coming–I just didn’t want the story.

It was the first time I met Hayes. He and Cody Glass immediately extended their hands to say it was nice to meet me. Hayes has a good personality, and I foresee him filling part of Jeff Carter’s internal role as a fun guy who is a friend to many. He’s been through hell over the past few years. Later today, I’ll write about the team’s effort to support him.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: We rolled into the UPMC Lemieux Complex at quarter to 8 to see Matt Nieto participating in drills and skating pretty well. He had reconstructive knee surgery in May. Later in the afternoon, the Penguins updated Nieto’s status.

As training camp begins, there are a few pressing storylines. From the kids to the roster glut, get set for the next few weeks of Penguins season.

I chatted with the newbies. Matt Grzelcyk, who has a tattoo that reads, “Trust the Struggle,” Hayes, Beauvillier, and Glass. An update on why Erik Karlsson missed Day 1 and the first impressions of Penguins acquisitions.

PHN+: Shelly chatted with Kris Letang as part of the media scrum and after it. Letang doesn’t wonder if Sidney Crosby will play until he’s 40. He thinks his buddy will stick around a lot longer. Letang had a few other things to say, too. If you haven’t already subscribed–use coupon code Shelly10–and check out more from the Penguins locker room.

NHL Rumors, News, & National Hockey Now

Sportsnet: Rogers wrote a check for over $4 billion to buy out Bell’s half ownership of the Toronto Maple Leafs. It’s a ton of money, and it’s a seismic shift in Canadian sports and media.

At this point, two companies own the country. I’m not sure how it’s a good thing.

Mitch Marner stopped reporters before they could ask the obvious question. The team and the player are building a wall between themselves and the inescapable possibility that Marner will be gone via free agency after this season.

Boston Hockey Now: “Bullshit.” GM Don Sweeney came out swinging at false stories but was also firm that Swayman not accepting a contract is hurting both the goalie and the Boston Bruins.

TSN: GM Don Waddell has only 10 forwards on the roster, and the mystery is not whether Wadell goes shopping on the NHL trade market, but for whom? I think the Penguins could be a factor here. The latest on the Blue Jackets trade talk.

NHL.com: Jaromir Jagr. It was a lifetime ago that he was a tree-tunk-shaped rookie who couldn’t speak English skating on a line with Troy Loney and Bryan Trottier. George H.W. Bush was one year into his presidency. No one had yet heard of Nirvana, and only a few people had this new thing called the Internet. Hockey and Jagr have kept going. Wednesday, Jagr collected an assist in his 37th season.

Philly Hockey Now: The Wells Fargo Center will no longer house the Philadelphia hockey and basketball teams. The 76ers are getting an arena downtown, near the Reading Terminal Market and Chinatown, while the WFC will remain home to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Washington Hockey Now: The stalwarts are coming to an end. First, Nick Backstrom retired without really retiring because of his contract. Now, T.J. Oshie is expected to spend the season on LTIR for the Washington Capitals.