Dan’s Daily: Russia Violates IIHF Sanctions; Penguins TV Purge

A cloudless, sunny start to a holiday weekend quickly became a bombshell news day in Pittsburgh. A couple of days after the Fenway Sports Group announced they would take over AT&T SportsNet, changes began, including purging the Penguins TV broadcasters Steve Mears and Bob Errey. Elsewhere in the Daily, try not to act surprised that the KHL violated IIHF sanctions with a Flyers prospect. Marc Dumont examined which UFAs might seize a PTO opportunity with the rebuilding Montreal Canadiens. Those same Canadiens removed goalie Jake Allen from the NHL trade rumors, and Patrick Kane might be ahead of schedule.

So, no dogs attacked me on my way home from Elkins, no country roads ended without warning, nor did I hear banjos when I veered off the main roads. I don’t often visit those parts of Maryland and West Virginia, so I soaked in the sights, including the smallest church in the continental U.S., the Pittsburgh-famous Honi Honi Bar, and found some twisty little roads to scrape some pegs (that’s when you lean hard enough into a turn the foot pegs hit the road). On little Rt. 72 in West by God Virginia, I was compelled to stop and take a picture of this absolutely perfect view.

To the hockey…

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: I’d say fan reaction was split about 60/40 against the move. FSG announced plans to take over AT&T SportsNet and promptly cleaned house on the broadcast crew, letting go of Steve Mears and Bob Errey. Penguins broadcast details.

Our Dave Molinari broke the story.

Dan Potash will stay in his role as the in-game reporter. Commenting on the broadcasters is your right and privilege, not mine, but I will tell you that Errey and Mears were a technically sound pairing and good guys. I think you know how much broadcasting Penguins games meant to Mears and how much Errey loves the game.

It’s pretty late in the offseason to hire new broadcasters, radio or TV. The Penguins’ options are limited, at best.

Steelers Now

“More explosive.” Will Jaylen Warren leap Najee Harris on the Steelers’ depth chart?

Bold Predictions are coming in regarding the Steelers’ offense.

And here are the broadcasters for the Browns-Steelers game.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now:

Whew. Paul Skenes was much better in his second start for Double-A Altoona. Here’s the story on the Pirates prospect.

Another whew. He was not hitting anything in the first half of the season, but for a couple of months now, Ke’Bryan Hayes has been slugging.

The Buccos’ recent hot streak continued into September. Andrew McCutchen brought the bat, and the Pirates beat those dirty Red Birds. Get the quickie Pirates recap.

NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now:

Philly Hockey Now: The IIHF ruled that Ivan Fedotov had a valid NHL contract, not a KHL contract, but Russia kept Fedotov in the KHL, and he started the season opener. More on the Philadelphia Flyers prospect.

Russia. I wish I could write more, but I don’t feel like dealing with ignorance in the comments.

RVA: Yep, Casey DeSmith is the goalie who will be out in Montreal. You’ll need to turn on your browser’s translator, but RVA is reporting the Canadiens told Jake Allen he is not on the NHL trade block.

Boston Hockey Now: A rumor has existed for several years that former Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask tied one on the night before a must-win game and was scratched due to a hangover. Rask took dead aim at those Boston Bruins rumors.

TSN: Three months after hip surgery, Patrick Kane is feeling like himself and might be ahead of his rehab schedule.

Sportsnet: If you’ve followed the positive developments in Women’s hockey, they’ve finally pulled it all together. No more rival leagues and self-inflicted impediments. Hilary Knight and the biggest names in the sport are on board. Here’s the full update on the new GMs, the draft, and everything PWHL.

Montreal Hockey Now: Which veterans could jump on the opportunity and take a PTO with the Montreal Canadiens?