Dan’s Daily: Knight Takes Canada For US Gold, Crosby-MacKinnon?

The World Juniors will never catch on in the States until hockey prospects and where they are from becomes a thing. Still, for those who watched the thrilling Team USA gold medal win on Tuesday night, it was a glimpse of the tournament’s raw emotion and perfection. In the daily links, we break down the first Pittsburgh Penguins training camp scrimmage, Mathew Barzal took his physical for the New Yor Islanders without a contract, and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman threw out a Sidney Crosby thought to chew on.

We’ll start with the Penguins.

For our subscribers, here is our breakdown and analysis of the Penguins camp scrimmage. Who was good, and who wasn’t (PHN+)

Afterward, the Penguins comments highlighted the high risk and reward of the Mike Matheson trade (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

The NHL is sponsoring each of the four divisions. Mass Mutual grabbed the East (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Fans are clearly unhappy with the sponsorships on the helmets and division names. Jersey sponsors are probably going to happen sooner than later. Everyone needs to calm down. The sooner the NHLPA can even the balance sheet against the owners’ losses, the sooner the cap can rise, and NHL trades will be possible again, and legit All-Stars won’t take PTOs. They have to do something.

Elliotte Friedman’s 31 Thoughts continues to be the standard-bearer of behind the scenes hockey reporting (We hope our Off the Record has been valuable, too). On Tuesday, he tossed out a little nugget for Pittsburgh Penguins fans or Colorado Avalanche fans to chew on. Could Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon someday find a way to play together (Sportsnet)

That would mean MacKinnon in Pittsburgh…right?

In the WJCs, Team Canada was a juggernaut. They outscored their opponents 41-4 in the tournament…until the scrappy Americans with speed and singing from the same hymnal took it to them. Team USA goalie Spencer Knight (Florida, 13th overall pick, Florida, 2019) stole the show with a shutout (TSN)

Thrilling game to watch. These teams were some of the best I’ve ever seen at the WJC level.

Logan Couture says, “Of course” the San Jose Sharks will make the playoffs (San Jose Hockey Now)

Cal Clutterbuck drives Penguins fans nuts. He’s a tough guy on a tough line. The New York Islanders grinder revealed an ugly injury lingered after he was cut by a skate (NYI Hockey Now)

See you at the rink later this morning for Day 3 of the Pittsburgh Penguins training camp.