Dan’s Daily: TSN Drops Crosby to 11th, Tim Horton’s Drops Hockey Canada

Mike Sullivan said the Pittsburgh Penguins will use their Friday exhibition game against the Buffalo Sabres to make their final roster decisions, though it appears 22 of 23 spots are set. Sportsnet rated Sidney Crosby as the seventh-best player in the league, while TSN dropped him out of the top 10. The Philadelphia Flyers made a surprising cut of a first-round pick, T.J. Oshie was injured again, and when will Vegas sign Nic Hague?

I should have expected Sullivan to say the final preseason game means something. For some reason, I thought he might say getting the team ready for the season will be necessary. P.O Joseph has all the tools but hasn’t asserted his superior talents. It will be his last shot.

I also chatted with Jeff Petry and Ryan Poehling about the new system, new team, and new procedures. Petry gave me a few good quotes for later today. They are very different guys, and I also learned something I didn’t know about Petry’s lineage.

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Pittsburgh Penguins / Steelers, Pirates

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Pittsburgh Penguins practice. Special teams and unique situations, such as three-on-three. The Penguins got their steps on Wednesday, and Sam Poulin is still around with the Penguins.

PHN+: Brian Dumoulin has had several memorable years with the Penguins. However, 2021-22 is not one of those for the Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman.

Steelers Now: Well, this isn’t good — the entire starting secondary is injured. And…they play the Bills this week. Updated Steelers injuries.

Alan Saunders writes — the team is now moving to Plan B in the Ben Roethlisberger succession plan. As long as it’s not Plan 9 From Outer Space, I suppose. But it’s trouble for the Steelers.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now (PBN+): The 2022 season is mercifully over. Another 100-loss season is entirely unacceptable, but they rallied to win their last game, and we look to the future of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

S.O.S., MLB. S.O.S.

NHL News & National Hockey Now:

Vancouver Hockey Now: The apology.

Sportsnet: Rating Crosby a little more appropriately — No. 7 on the top 10 list.

TSN: Not that Sidney Crosby cares what TSN thinks, but we do. TSN dropped him out of the top 10 on their Top 50 list?!

They do watch the games, right?

CBC: Tim Horton’s had enough of the Hockey Canada scandals involving the Men’s teams and pulled their sponsorship of the men’s side of Hockey Canada.

There should be some nervous NHL players — the other shoe has not yet dropped.

Philly Hockey Now: The Flyers sent their 2019 first-round pick back to the AHL with a little pat on the back and a kick in the butt. The Philadelphia Flyers cuts and comments.

Washington Hockey Now: T.J. Oshie suffered another upper-body injury. Here’s the full story and update from the Washington Capitals.

I like Oshie and his game very much. I’d like to see him healthy, and the Penguins-Capitals have another couple of battles for the Metro. A decade ago, friends who don’t follow sports were at a wedding in St. Louis. They returned with a  story–some guy named T.J., who played hockey, was at their table and was the life of the party. They raved about this guy T.J., without any clue who he was.

Florida Hockey Now: Perhaps more sunshine and a new organization will suit Michael Del Zotto?

Vegas: Elliotte Friedman suggested that the Golden Knights were waiting for the start of the season to sign Nic Hague.