The Pittsburgh Penguins and the rest of the NHL are in the final weeks of the offseason, and it is time to deliver summer activity grades for the Metro Division. We were not kind to a few teams, including the Penguins. Elsewhere in the Daily, the NHL trade chatter is focused west, where the Anaheim Ducks have to make a move and the Calgary Flames have a surplus of players. And Hockey Canada announced they were upholding suspensions for the five acquitted members of the 2018 team who were accused of sexual assault.

Warning, personal aside incoming!

The preseason weight loss campaign has begun. I must admit that the ceaseless and sometimes difficult travel schedule over the last few seasons added about 25 pounds. Too many postgame dinners followed by early-morning bags of candy consumed while waiting for a flight, bags of airport fast food because there’s nothing else to do, exhaustion taking the place of physical activity, and meals or a few beers born of sheer boredom and genuine exploration of a city have been adding up.

Hey, the exploration on the road is a fun part of the job, and I’m not going to stop, but I outkicked my coverage. Over the last four years, my suit size went from 40L to 44R, and this week the mirror threw a roundhouse right.

Since Sunday, I’m down four by eating less, eating dinner at a Western PA acceptable time (instead of 8 or 9 p.m), walking a few miles around the city every night (without getting ice cream or a beer), and reclaiming my seat at the local coffee shop to work, so I’m not destroying snacks as I pace my apartment dealing with the next problem or formulating another story.

I tell you this as a matter of accountability. And maybe you’ve gone through the gain, too. Now, I have to get back under 200. I’m bringing back the suits, not for the road (what a pain to pack), but for home games (sometimes). So, here we go…

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Things always look a little different in a larger context. A few Metro Division teams had great, transformative offseasons. A few teams cannonballed into the sea of nothingness. The Metro is a dichotomy of teams in transition, and we delivered some blunt grades, including to the Penguins’ offseason.

Steelers Now: There’s been a lot of chatter and a few birdbrained hot takes on Drew Allar. They haven’t played a preseason game yet, for gosh sakes. So, Derrick Bell laid out the necessary steps for a successful preseason for the rookie Steelers QB.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: The Pirates have fallen apart. The tantalizing wild card berth became the birth of their nightmare. Last night, the Marlins destroyed the Bucs, and the Pittsburgh Pirates have lost seven straight series.

John Perrotto is back for some columns with PBN! Here’s a doozy—why won’t the Pirates admit something is wrong with Paul Skenes?

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

TSN: Hockey Canada stirred the emotions and debate over the five players acquitted of sexual assault last fall. The five players, including Carter Hart and Michael McLeod, were acquitted by a judge who also delivered a stern admonishment to the prosecution. However, Hockey Canada announced that an independent review board has found that the players violated the code of conduct and upheld suspensions for international play. McLeod has the longest ban, but others are ineligible until 2028.

Now to the trade talk.

Calgary Sun: The Calgary Flames have a glut of left-side defensemen and D-men in general. Calgary also has young players who may not fit their structure. So, the consequences and trade chatter have begun.

NHLtraderumors.me: The Anaheim Ducks need to clear salary cap space for Cutter Gauthier. The Anaheim Ducks have some expendable veterans now on overpriced contracts. What shall they do? Oh, yeah, salary dumps incoming.

I know what you’re thinking. For the record, Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas did say in his postseason presser that he didn’t foresee going the salary hold route this summer. And where would the Penguins fit another forward?

Sportsnet: An interesting read. The 12 newly acquired players around the league— the under-the-radar guys who could have the biggest impact.

Boston Hockey Now: Some teams—I understand why bettors are running away from them. Others, not so much. It seems oddsmakers and bettors are not keen, not even a little, on the new Boston Bruins.

Florida Hockey Now: Win a couple of Stanley Cups, acquire a few veterans with good track records, and I suppose this sort of talk starts. Which Florida Panthers are close to making the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Tags:anaheim ducks hockey canada nhl trade Pittsburgh Penguins

Categorized:Links NHL Trade Rumors Pittsburgh Penguins