Dan’s Daily: What Penguins Want; Demko Rare Injury; Lehner AWOL

Some days, the headlines write themselves. We asked Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan what he’s looking for from the gaggle of bubble players hoping to make the NHL roster, and he delivered a specific answer that we can use as a checklist. We’ve got some insights from training camp, as well as Sullivan nearly gushing over a pair of prospects. The Vancouver Canucks goalie has a rare injury, and it sounds like doctors are a little baffled. The Nylander brothers are rooming together in Toronto. Robin Lehner has gone AWOL, and the Vegas Golden Knights hinted they’re moving to terminate his contract.

I’m sorry, but there are no NHL trade rumors or even chatter this morning. The start of training camps has focused attention on actual hockey. The Penguins camp has a breezy vibe, which is probably a good thing.

It’s too early to start passing judgments and prognostications, but over the next few days, we’ll get there. Sullivan really leaned into the question about Vasily Ponomarev and Ville Koivunen, so he made that an easy story to write. I haven’t sensed an emerging fan favorite from you … yet.

I suspect Ponomarev will become the people’s champion quite soon, and based on Sullivan’s response, you may have the coach’s company on that bandwagon, but I can’t quite figure out the lineup construction if he makes the team.

However, Sullivan’s description of Koivunen didn’t disagree with my negative assessments, but he did put a positive spin on them. I thought it was interesting to get a mirror image of my thoughts but with optimism. In fact, as I wrote that sentence, this morning’s column just clicked into my head…

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: How will Sullivan decide who to keep and who to send away? We asked, and Sullivan gave us his three main criteria for staying. We also gave a little Penguins prospects update.

In addition to candidly discussing his cutdown checklist, Sullivan also dished on acquired prospects Ponomarev and Koivunen. The video we included in the story shows Sullivan becoming enthusiastic in his answer (but he hates young players, remember?). And we’ve got the video of Sidney Crosby laughing about his hip-check on Evgeni Malkin, too. Go inside the Penguins locker room.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: The minor league report. Things aren’t going well in Indy now. The poor depth is on display, which is just more stinking bad news for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Steelers Now: Here’s the story I wanted to read. Broderick Jones has been yanked around just a bit by the Steelers coaches. Right tackle. Left tackle. Right tackle. Starter. Backup. Starter. Benched. Jones opened up about his struggles and the plans for him. Here’s the story from inside the Steelers locker room.

NHL Rumors, News & National Hockey Now

Vegas Hockey Now: There are some serious whispers about the situation. What is official is that Robin Lehner did not report for his physical, which is a necessary part of the Golden Knights’ ability to place him on long-term injured reserve. Lehner is AWOL, and here’s what comes next for the Vegas Golden Knights.

New Jersey Hockey Now: There are only a couple of unsigned RFAs left: Jeremy Swayman in Boston and Dawson Mercer in New Jersey. Here’s how teammates and the team reacted to Mercer’s absence on Day 1 of the New Jersey Devils camp.

Detroit Hockey Now: Why are there only two big-name RFAs left? Because the Detroit Red Wing put pen to paper and signed very promising (and talented) young defenseman Moritz Seider.

TSN Video: It sounds as if doctors are a little baffled or at least do not know what will happen regarding Thatcher Demko’s injury. No other hockey player has ever had it, so there’s a great deal of uncertainty regarding his status and future.

I stand behind my preseason column that circled the Penguins and Vancouver as potential trade partners because of Demko’s injury. Vancouver is only getting more mysterious, not less, and they have Stanley Cup aspirations.

Sportsnet: William Nylander offered his opinion on why Alex Nylander hasn’t become an NHL regular. Count me as someone who would not do the same. The boys are rooming together–Alex signed a minor league deal with the Toronto Marlies and William are rooming together in Toronto.

Buffalo Hockey Now: Former New York Islanders forward and Buffalo Sabres captain Kyle Okposo announced his retirement yesterday. It was a pretty great run for Okposo.

Buffalo Hockey Now: Also, things are getting wild in Buffalo. At practice on Thursday, five–yes, FIVE–players suffered an injury. Perhaps it was being forced to play on the other side of the blue line by new coach Lindy Ruff? Jason Moser has the scoop from the wild Buffalo Sabres practice.

Washington Hockey Now: Jakub Vrana is back in D.C., ableit on a PTO. His former and potentially future teammates were quite happy to have him back with the Washington Capitals.