Dan’s Daily: The Penguins On Ice; Bruins Trade Talk, & the Latest on Kessel

More than a dozen Pittsburgh Penguins hit the ice Tuesday in what is believed to be the first large-scale workout for much of the team. Thanks to Dave Molinari, who got the tip, Pittsburgh Hockey Now got the scoop. I noticed Mark Friedman spot me sitting a few rows up and shake his head, as I was likely grinning ear to ear with the start of hockey. Jimmy Murphy is all over the recent Boston Bruins trade talk from Mark Scheifele to the possibility of trading a goalie. And TSN has the latest on Patrick Kane and everyone’s fan favorite, Phil Kessel.

I’m surprised I didn’t get beat up yesterday after the top five worst Penguins road trips piece. I greatly tempered my irritation with one of the cities (*ahem, Long Island), but I fully expected an opposing fanbase or three to tee off. I suppose the Penguins unofficial workout saved me from that fate.

And I appreciate many of you asking, probably out of morbid curiosity — yes, I got on the golf course over the weekend. I squeezed in nine holes courtesy of a friend who dragged me away from my laptop. I hit a few towering tee shots with my old-school 3-wood later in the round and was chipping for an eagle, but I might as well have used a sledgehammer instead of a pitching wedge. I hit three trees, one so solidly I had to duck as the ball came back at me with a vengeance, and I flubbed two straight shots into a small pond 10 yards in front of me.

Golf is evil. To hockey…

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The boys are back in town, and 16 of them hit the ice Tuesday. Get the scoop from the unofficial Penguins skate.

Monday were the five best Penguins road trips. Tuesday, I spared no feelings. The five worst trips for Penguins fans.

Steelers Now:

The buzz around Dezmond King is growing around the Steelers facility.

The Steelers hosted four players for workouts on Tuesday. Get the Steelers news.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now:

Season over. The Pirates placed Paul Skenes on the development list, ending his season. Ben Cherrington explained why. The latest on the top Pirates prospect.

A big fifth inning by Milwaukee sunk the Pirates. Who did the slugging, and who gave them up — The quickie Pirates recap.

NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now:

Chicago Hockey Now: Dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria! What if Patrick Kane indeed signs with the Detroit Red Wings?

Boston Hockey Now: The NHL trade rumors won’t go away. Earlier this week, Hockey Now examined the connection between Mark Scheifle and Bruins trade needs. Now sources told Jimmy Murphy to expect the Bruins to hang onto both goalies. The NHL trade chatter in Boston.

Also in Boston, old friend Danton Heinen signed a PTO.

TSN: Is there any interest in Phil Kessel?

Montreal Hockey Now: Perhaps Penguins fans can relate. The contracts signed by the former GM are hindering the Montreal Canadiens.

Washington Hockey Now: It will be an uphill climb for the Capitals to catch up to the Penguins and regain a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. They, too, began Tuesday as Alex Ovechkin returned to town to lead the informal Washington Capitals practice.