Dan’s Daily: Matt Murray Major Surgery; Penguins Season BEGINS!

The Pittsburgh Penguins season begins today when training camp officially begins at the UPMC Lemieux Complex. Pittsburgh Hockey Now will have all hands on deck over the next few days, as the entire PHN staff will be there for coverage. The Penguins’ new sports network announced the rotating color analysts and studio hosts. Former Penguins goalie Matt Murray is having “major surgery,” though Toronto is withholding details. Steven Stamkos is unhappy about the lack of contract talks with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Josh Norris still isn’t ready for the Ottawa Senators, Brad Marchand is the new Bruins captain, and Gabriel Landeskog will miss this season, too.

Summer is … over.

And I am happy to put away the golf clubs, too. For what was likely my last round, I played a beautiful and inexpensive course outside Zelienople. I’m sure the course designer was a lovely chap. I’m also sure that for enjoyment, he paid female wrestlers to kick him in the crotch and thought golfers might like that pain on a front nine.

On the plus side, the snacks were cheap, and the food was good. And, if you’re short on golf balls, I left a couple dozen scattered about the course for you (And since I bashed the design as far too difficult or restrictive for a public course, I won’t tell you the name).

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Rotating color analysts and studio analysts — the final additions to the new Penguins TV lineup.

Training camp begins today. First, Dave Molinari put the blue line competition under examination. From Chad Ruhwedel and Mark Pysyk to P.O Joseph and Ty Smith, it’s a full-house competition for a spot on the Penguins’ third pair.

The bottom six is even more congested. There are 10 players and four spots in the bottom six. The brawl to fill the Penguins’ lines.

Just in case you missed it — here is the roster and Penguins training camp schedule.

Steelers Now:

It seems there’s more to this story than we know. Raiders pass rusher Chandler Jones has been posting cryptic or odd things on Twitter, and the team placed him on the non-football injury list. Jones will miss the Week 3 matchup against the Steelers.

Why the Steelers have not used him far more often, I cannot fathom, and now they might be without behemoth tight-end Darnell Washington.

The Steelers’ offense is incompetent, and it starts with the direction and scheme. The national media continues to call for Matt Canada’s firing.

SN+: Derrick Bell dives into the film room — here’s one way to get Kenny Pickett going.

Yes, all PHN+ subscribers have access to SN+!

Pittsburgh Baseball Now:

PBN+: Mitch Keller is closing in on Pirates history.

After a disastrous night at Wrigley, the Buccos flipped the script and won 13-7. Get the quickie Pirates recap.

NHL News & National Hockey Now:

Sportsnet: OK, no conspiracy theory here, but it’s odd. And I’m concerned for Matt Murray. Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving said Murray would have major surgery and be out for months but did not give further details.

Boston Hockey Now: Brad Marchand is the new captain of the Boston Bruins. Here’s a must-read story. The turning point for Marchand was the famous licking Ryan Callahan incident. The full story from the new Bruins captain.

Philly Hockey Now: Rebuild?! GM Daniel Briere says while he might be rebuilding the roster, the players are not thinking “rebuild.” With Sean Couturier and Cam Atkinson back, the Philadelphia Flyers could surprise.

With some goaltending and luck, the Flyers could hang around on the periphery of the playoff chase.

NYI Hockey Now: Anders Lee called out the Islander doubters.

TSN: This could affect a few of you fantasy hockey players and help the Penguins playoff chase. Senators center Josh Norris, who had major shoulder surgery last year, began training camp in a non-contact jersey.

Vegas Hockey Now: Logan Thompson or Stanley Cup-winning goalie Adin Hill? There are a few heavyweight battles in the Vegas Golden Knights camp.

Colorado Hockey Now: Gabe Landeskog is OUT for the season again. Tons of news from Day 1 of the Colorado Avalanche camp.

And last but not least — one you’ll want to read and a name you’ll want to know.

Washington Hockey Now: Ivan Miroshnichenko. The Capitals 2022 first-rounder (20th overall) fell in the draft because of his Russia residency and a non-Hodgkins lymphoma diagnosis. One year later, his infamous wrister is torturing goalies in the Washington Capitals camp.